I thought the same at first, but I instead just did a bit of exploration in the Overworld and Nether so that I could build a Railcraft Coke Oven + Blast Furnace in order to get my steel. I built a whole reactor with that tech line. Yes, tech is a bit cumbersome to get started with, but it is a solid accomplishment just getting a pulverizer or SAG mill.I give this pack for what ive played and looked though the recipes, a A- Overall... Biggest issue for me and its a pack breaking issue is, I hate Ic2, Forcing the majority of tier 1 of IC2 in (Generator, Blast furnace, Compressor, Metal former) to get the T1 of say thermal expansion (Pulverizer & Powered furnace).
I did have to go through IC2 a bit later in order to get my Ender-Thermic Pump, but that's more of an optional block at least.