Um - not a bonus? So adding x% to production isn't placing a bonus on production? My point is that properly done you don't need buffs to run the economy. You can chose to use buffs to increase output. If you must use buffs all the time just to keep up, I would look at improving your production chains. They don't "have to be earned". Much as collectibles, they are an optional bonus-to-special-buff item - you can ignore them completely and nothing is lost (it's just nothing is gained either).