Is it just me, or is research a bit schizophrenic?

[Mulbin]

Definitely needs some changes to feel more like a space program and less like a random spread of parts.

I will be modding my save to put the stayputnik at the start and move the manned pod to a later tech.... this one really has me scratching my head as to why they put manned flight in way before probe cores. As mentioned it also makes no sense having no decouplers at the start as early space flight should be about putting tiny things in orbit, not whole rockets.

[Depth]

this one really has me scratching my head as to why they put manned flight in way before probe cores.

They are Kerbals, for them it doesn't make sense to develop something that makes a lot of noise and goes incredibly fast without letting someone experience it.

The realization that this is actually incredibly dangerous comes later on.

[Seret]

I will be modding my save to put the stayputnik at the start and move the manned pod to a later tech....

You're might find it pretty grindy reaching those later tech nodes without the ability to do crew reports, EVA reports and samples.

I do however agree with you about the decoupler, but at least it only takes a laughably small amount of science to earn it. You don't actually need to launch anything to unlock it.