My games typically last between 4 and 10 turns for around six ships a side. Granted though I've managed to get only a few games in due to few players. durn it.

From what I've been told, the pillbug is indeed an inside joke.

Number three is a mystery, though a possible thought is that it's a tribute to the player whom actually thought the rule up.

The 0 speed assumption is just that. An assumption. It could be as a result of the speed bleed-off from coming out of jump/hyperspace as a rational reason, or just to avoid players having a potentially unfair advantage over each other when playing one-off games. Like many things in the rules "tool kit", it's up to the players how they want to interpret and game it.

Happy hunting and mind them bugs. 

I have nothing against them. I just found it curious to see a definition of them in the glossary and it has seemingly no bearing on the game itself.

Ahhhh... that makes a lot of sense then. Hence, "The Brian Rule."

Well, now I know.

I'd still like to hear how long games last for other people before I start making my turn record sheet. I'm thinking a quick easy something in XL format that I can then take to Kinkos or what-have-you to make a bazillion copies of in a cool pad that I can tear the pages off of, like a page-a-day calendar.

5-10 turns is the norm for our games down here as well, though usually closer to 5.

Mine frequently end up in the 2-5 turn range.  I suspect that this is due in part to the fact that we use sequential movement; the last couple of ships moved are almost sure to bring their guns to bear for maximum effect.  We also tend to start at pretty short ranges (under 30).