Really though, you're right, the closest thing they'd ever be useful for is as stellar engines since you could theoretically make them have a lot more surface area on one side and they would slowly accelerate a star exerting pressure on the structure. So some kind of type 3 civilization could be moving stars around over millions of years.
Counterpoint:
Really though, you're right, the closest thing they'd ever be useful for is as stellar engines since you could theoretically make them have a lot more surface area on one side and they would slowly accelerate a star exerting pressure on the structure. So some kind of type 3 civilization could be moving stars around over millions of years.
I watched the text commentary for.that TNG episode with Scotty and Michael Okuda their art director and science guy explained it.