Yeaaah, but I don't think it's particularly bad. Here's where I am now:
Obviously, a 2x2 square is better than 1x4. 2x3 is almost inconceivable, it'll be several months at *least* before I can get enough engineers for two more workshops - and that's with fulfilling every single request for weapon fragments. I'm screwed for scientists because I didn't know that I kinda needed to do xenobiology to start trading sectoid corpses for scientists.
I also put off alien materials for far too long, which... wow. I could have been enhancing salvage, researching alien craft for bonuses, or getting scientists (and other things, like nation defense) for my huge excesses of elerium/alloy/meld. I've had to just sell several hundred units of elerium and alloy, which I mostly got from taking down three supply ships (and losing several strong soldiers).
Not the point. Thing is, a line of 4 satellite uplinks supports 7 satellites. A square supports 1 more. The benefit of squaring workshops is even less since it's capped at 50% savings and has diminishing returns, but it's also by far the easiest to square (since repair bay and foundry count for the adjacency).
Given that it's May and I'm still 3 scientist short of a second lab, I really don't need to be aiming for 2x3 of them. I'll be missing out on a 10% research boost... which sucks a bit... but only once I have the scientists to build 4 labs in the first place. Whereas I was able to build 4 workshop-type facilities, and I did make them a square (potentially 2x3, going forward).
My plan right now is a satellite nexus underneath the uplinks (once I get all that research done), then another to the left. An elerium generator underneath alien containment, connected to the thermal generator on the bottom-right vent. Far left column remains dedicated to science - once I get some FREAKIN SCIENTISTS lol
Also, wow, I literally never used shivs before for some reason. They're adorable and fun, it's like when I first got MECs. Just got the Newfoundland site recon... Not sure what to expect, but some Googling indicates that shivs *can* press the button. Good luck little buddy, but better you than us.