Knight's Templar made being new feel impossible

So ive now abandoned a 4 hour save because I got tired of the KT making my home system unworkable. I am using SS+ with Nexerelin and every stable faction listed in the SS+ page. Anywho i dont want this to be a cry fest so I propose a question. How do YOU deal with KT? They seem ive witnessed entire fleets of Blackrock ships decimated by the KTs inherant abilities (either the suicide detonations, or the periodic 360 em explosion, as well as those amazing purple missile things that tend to 2 shot anything destroyer or below...) Is there something I am missing with them or are they generally best avoided?