> . I'm perfectionist freak and my factorio gameplay basically divides "before" and "after" cliff explosives.

I adopt the strategy of "field expedient base" which gets me to almost where I need to be, and then after expanding, I begin building a megabase with more technology and convert the field expedient base to a resource factory. Then I can transport processed resources by train to any number of places.

It's not that annoying once you realize that's kind of how you're supposed to expand. The natural obstacles are a godsend once you start playing on the harder modes.

Water, however, has always been a constant annoyance to me. But I am a purist and refuse to install mods because as far as I can tell the game is basically perfect without them.