Devs have gotten pretty lazy with file size optimization these last couple console generations, now that they don't need to strictly fit everything on the disc.
It gets much better after season one. ABC turned on them, the treacherous dogs, and they switched to Cartoon Network, who were much more lenient in what they could get away with.
That Civilization 6 uses geological continents when the 'continent' key word is used where every other game in the series uses geographical continents for that key word still bugs me.
The planet killer can't fire very frequently. Realistically, they just need to get within transporter range, send drones over, and start assimilating the ship. If they can avoid the first shot from the superlaser or just have a second ship, they're probably fine. Unless the Death Star has Vader on board.
Also, depending on your definition of 'old,' that laugh track might be a live studio audience rather than canned laughter.