You know, I voted for Ranka, and then I thought about it. Ranka would be the obvious choice, the safe choice, but it wouldn't shock me if they went with Sheryl.
I think she comes across much better in episode 2 than she does in 1. Episode 3 should be very interesting, see how the three react to being trapped together.
There are things that bother me a little bit in both. Between both subs, body language, tone of voice, and what just sounds right, I get what I want out of it. Too early to pick just one. Until one stands above the other, I'll support both releases.
Up until the ASS-1 crashed, Earth was hundreds, if not thousands of years behind technologically from the Protoculture. I think we can cut them a little slack for not having developed a total force field in the 60 years since they moved from the combustion engine to OTEC fold drives.
I think the main problem with the "plan" is that going into the series (from the mini), the writers had no plan. They've made it up as they go along, with some stuff changing season to season.
I don't know why they'd have to go through ADV, but HG sure is a pest. Can't say either of them have the money to challenge a real effort to get it released, though.