Okay, I've lost track of what actual problem we are trying to solve. Are people legitimately worried that we can spend thousands of build points to up the output of automated mining colonies by 2 or 3 per cent? Because we can't build or research without a real population, and if we have one of those then giving the SecCom a worker requirement doesn't particularly matter.
If we're trying to stop the exploit of dumping one SecCom on top of several hundred auto-mines, I'm not sure that (mathematically) it's even an exploit. . . and if it is, then increasing the cost by one orbital habitat isn't doing much to stop it.
Personally, I have never put Sector Commands anywhere other than multi-billion population colonies. In at least half my games, I've never put them anywhere other than my imperial capital.
Until this thread came along, I had no idea they didn't require workers, or supporting pop, or whatever. I can't remember if I've ever captured any, or discovered any in alien ruins. They are just a cool thing I build a few of in my captial and largely forget about.