I completed my build solo, which took two 6-hour game sessions (approximately 12 hours total) for me to haul all the required components with CMM Composites being the biggest pain. I do have a fleet carrier which was used, but with the time slot error because of so many players, I don't know how much delay that added.
My feedback:
1) Starting a colony, the player needs to be able to choose where the first outpost is being placed after the system claim process is complete and/or it needs to be the first available slot. Placing the colony 45k ls from the main star added unnecessary time to completing.
2) The initial haul of about 22k items is way too high, especially that once complete, installations (not ports) need about 7k items to be hauled. 7k -10k Items feels appropriate for the first build, subsequent builds can increase in cost. I previously mentioned that I would appreciate that additional types of commodities are required, rather than having several of the same item (CMM Composites need to be drastically reduced and add more of anything else)
3) When completing the build... it feels like a placeholder congrats screen, please don't leave it like that.
4) I think many people have said it multiple times, but as a simulation game, I think hiring NPCs to do the haul for you, needs to be added. This allows a player to be a "system architect," not a hauler. It was honestly not fun after the first few hours of gathering materials, I don't see myself as a solo player doing this again. For squadrons and teams setting goals, if nothing changed, I see this addition breathing life into groups and is a good addition.