missions that spawn at the begginning of a game, without research to unlock (as opposed for the bounty one, to make an example). Anyone confirm that list is ok or i forgot some?
I guess you're only counting locations and not ship traffic. The list should be:
Mutant Progrom (no penalty)
Mutant Culling (after 12 months)
Stranded Govt Agent
Ratmen Rodeo
Help the Lokk'Naars
Save a Sister
Shipwrecked Gal
Distress Call
Bring Down the Watchtower
Scientific Experiments
Temple Raid
Shambler Hunt
These ones from your list require research:
Blood Rituals (Mess Hall)
Infested Cellar (Contacts: Merchants)
Hot Pursuit (Communications)
So it's really no difference between thise, it only matters to enemies, since some are more sensible to one or another, right? (piercing for x incendiary for y)
There's no difference between them on a mechanics level, no.
It pays to keep in mind that Dioxine often bundles secondary effects with some damage types. For example chem weapons tend to cause armor damage and fire weapons cause moral loss. This is just a convention to make things easier for the player, though.