I think it's a good idea having that mod added to the game. It forces you to think twice what you craft by hand and how many.
Without it and using mods that helps you craft easier, faster and automatically there is no need no more to build plants for more than the things you cannot craft in your pocket yourself and the few things you need a vast amount of it, because you are your biggest plant yourself (running on no energy at all) - no need to build a factory then....
