True, although I'd imagine they're separated so as to more easily differentiate between functional and aesthetic portions of the game. That way both can be worked on simultaneously. But as with any such separation, if the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing, side effects may occur.
[Edit]: As to the contention that the research is OP for Capital Victory and otherwise useless: it's a big advantage in Capital Victory, but certainly not a decisive one. It both allows and requires you to put more Fleet power into an offensive force. Allows, because you aren't as concerned about losing your Capital; requires, because you can't afford to lose your Titan. I will say, though, that for Capital Victory games it would make a lot more sense if the research worked as described. Hunting stragglers is not fun.
On the other hand, in non-Capital Victory games, it allows you to build a big Fleet and go planetless. A roving-Fleet strategy is generally impracticable because losing all of your planets is an automatic game loss--meaning you need to maintain at least some defensive and cultural infrastructure to keep from being eliminated. I can't speak to how often people go that route, since I don't play a lot of ICO multiplayer, but I like at least having the option.
