a) Yes. Had to rely on the switches heavily. Also got a lot of tricks trying to combat my failures....
Things I learned the hard way, and are not covered by any youtuber, who plays on "easy" or "normal" difficulty....
Switches are paramount.
Create a simple network on pipes and power lines. Not a straight line from point to point, but having more than one route to the dome & tanks.
Split the production of water into unconnected segments. And each one connects to the dome. Same applies to Oxygen.
If something fails, only that small segment is affected, not whole network. The dome can work as the interconnecting hub moving the stuff around.
Air & Water pipes can go through buildings. That way you have just a small tiny segment of 1 pylon connecting 2 production/storage buildings. No need to go long lines over the power lines.
(same applies to the dome). Is waste of metal and prone to damage if something big hits he area.
Fuel production separate loop away from water loop. Can be placed anywhere. Better still get moistorizers to supply the fuel production, and when you get the upgrade adding 50% on the water production, build a tank.
That way if dust storm hits, the fuel production won't consume from reserves, but from any saved water.
Wind farms are waste of resources. Yes constant power but is only needed when you have colonists living. By that time there are other methods to maintain cheap power.
Solar power is working 2/3 of the day covering fully the two shiifts, so set accordingly even the unmanned units, works better.
On that also the trick to conserve power. If you have two farms, make one producing morning, the other at night.
Same applies when you build the machine part factory. Since you ain't going to fill up two shifts, more likely not even the first, turn the other off.
Flying drone network is for the lazy who want to burn resources at the start, when these are scarce. Two trucks are better, and allow you to move stuff around. When idling gather resources off the map.
Before you send off your rocket the first time from Mars back to Earth, make sure that you have allocated to the RC the maximum amount of drones, even those belonging to the rocket.
And protect those left behind by the rocket. they will be needed.
If you get the Fungal farm, build it. It doesn't take space in the dome, is built outside. That way you will have enough space for 2 apartments, 1 factory, on a third triangle groser, 2-3 parks and the restaurant (forgot it's name). That will leave you space to place an Electronics factory in the first dome also, or third apartment. Especially if you are in a good spot with 2 rare minerals, and 2 metal mines, 3 apartments are must, and go for the medical spire.
b) I was looking at the mod, I need quite a bit of Lua coding. I will do it though but it will take bit time to learn
Is not just another building or a crop or a sponsor. Needs more work.
c) Yeah heaters have sliders!!!! Just saw it after you said so. Thank you
Think I was around 60 Sols when 1 built my 2nd dome, or bit further, only have 2 Domes, 1 small and 1 medium and just passed 100 Sols. Went to take some screenies and then decided where I will have my 3rd dome. 
