Schlepping: Type-8 vs Type-9

[Neilski]

406 tons capacity means 1 fewer trip, but it would take 4 jumps on the way back. Each round trip would go from 5 total to 6 total jumps. An increase of at least 20% in transit time.

Yeah, I don't think that 406 is really such a big win vs 384 (it's less than 6% extra cargo, at the cost of a shield and the FSDB), but nonetheless:
Firstly your FSDB is currently only class 1 but sitting in a class 2 slot, so it's a no-brainer to bump that to class 2.
Secondly, 6 jumps is indeed 20% more than 5 jumps, but because the round-trip time contains other elements (e.g. undocking twice, redocking twice, leaving the mass lock of the station twice, supercruising from drop-in to the station twice), you'll find that the extra 45 seconds for that extra jump would add a LOT less than 20% to your round-trip time (well under 10%, I expect - and probably rather similar to the 6% cargo boost above).

 

[nemolomen]

For colonization, I choose between hauling in the T-8 (320t) and T-9 (688t) based on how much cargo I need to pickup/deliver at a particular location.

 

[Brieus]

Colonisation without an FC sounds like hard work.

Well, that's my next project. I did the math and I can cram almost enough stuff for 2 small installations and 1 medium inside.
I'm jumping the carrier to the system with 90%+ of the materials available and filling it up there.
Just need to find 328 bioreducing lichen. My starter outpost in-system sells it, but only 8 per tick. It did have enough Water Purifiers, Power Generators and Survival Equipment to fulfill requirements.