Aperently, yes.
Im sorry Thomas Fife, but ive gotta agree with Ehoron. That is one point I thought of, but have not posted.
If the costs r like this...
MJOLNIR
1,000,000 Credit
500,000 Metal
400,000 Crystal
Thats how much a battle group (10-50 ships) costs. If those battle group ships had sheilds, it would equal some thing like this...
Sheilded battle group:
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Credits
5,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Metel
4,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Crystal
Long post, Sorry.