The Data Angels fight for freedom of information. Mechanically they exploit OP research factions like University and Cybernetic Consciousness.
Unfortunately their faction quote is completely retarded. Peacekeepers already have the freedom of information faction quote. Data Angels' faction quote directly says that cheap adrenaline rushes from almost getting caught are more important. It really sells the Data Angels as a retarded faction. Mechanically they seem alright.
Cha Dawn's Cultists are fundamentalist terrorists that make Miriam "normal" in comparison. They also play very differently from Deidre; whereas you might imagine Deidre's Former plan involves lots of Forests, Cha Dawn would probably like to cover everything in Fungus (even though he doesn't get Deidre's nutrient bonus).
Cha Dawn is mechanically a native version of Santiago, except he also gets -1 economy to make Free Market economics worthless. His faction concept is just Gaians turned crazy eco-terrorists. And it's generally considered the weakest faction in the whole game. The best thing that can be said about Cha Dawn is that his faction does not have an AI imperative to take the Power value.
Free Drones represent the Drones. Like Angels, they represent a decentralized sovereignty that isn't present in the original 7.
They're the only faction which might thematically fit in with the original 7.
Pirates are a 3rd decentralized faction, and obviously play extremely different mechanically compared to the original 7.
Pirates are nothing more than naval juggernauts who start on water and will expand over the entire ocean if left unchecked. Trying to defeat pirates on their home turf is hell, where you are out-gunned (and if they already have marine detachment it gets much worse), and if you don't war with them expect the entire ocean to be dotted with pirate bases. It's bad balance. And the sheer theme of a random pirates of the 7 seas faction is also out of place.
Cybernetic Consciousness is flavorwise extremely different compared to University. Obviously this is the "Borg" for Star Trek. Mechanically they suit a hybrid strategy more than University, without University's policing problems. In fact, if anything they are more like Gaians with a better research bonus.
They're more like someone stapled the best part of the University (research) on the best part of Gaians (efficiency) with none of their disadvantages (low police, low probe, more drones, inability to run free market to cash in on superior efficiency). Their only penalty is a growth penalty which just makes pop booming more troublesome, but still very doable. Oh, and they don't get the free Network Nodes Zakharov gets. But for some reason they can steal techs just by conquering bases, which is also fairly nuts.
Deidre and Zharkov start with Centauri Ecology which is really the single best advantage in the game
Nope. Only Deirdre starts with Centauri Ecology. Zakharov starts with Information Networks.
As far as balance goes, the SMAX 5 are powerful but not more powerful than the best SMAC 7 factions. Deidre and Zharkov start with Centauri Ecology which is really the single best advantage in the game, and obviously Hive and Believers have OP advantages. The SMAX 5 are signficantly stronger than Morgan, Lal and Santiago but not stronger than the other 4.
I have no idea what you're smoking, but Pirates and Cyborgs are easily OP compared to the original 7. Free Drones is up for debate since their research penalty is counterbalanced by their ability to run Free Market while cashing in on a massive industry bonus, on top of their -1 drone in every base. Data Angels are fine. Cult is generally considered the worst faction of all 14.
