You could patch in "inferior" versions of the Computer and Feedstock tank, accessible by the (current) researches to replace the current computer/tank. Both require SIGNIFICANT upkeep, in the form of physical space via additional components, heating requirements/output, and maintenance need. This is all probably very complicated to mod in, particularly for just a patch, but I'll roll with the idea.

The basic Feedstock tank should be much larger and significantly lower in capacity, and require temperature in the room be VERY precisely maintained, or the contents spoil away (orrr give food poisoning, or turn only into rotten human meat [unique new item even cannibals hate] until purged, or something). The Feedstock tank room temperature should have to be maintained at precisely 3-7 C (ideally 5 C) or something. You should have to build and maintain more than one Feedstock tank to feed any significant amount of colonists, with its vast assemblage of chemical sub-component storage, complicated nano-mechanical apparatus, and extremely thick thermal insulation absorbing the bulk of each tanks mass. Maybe the Feedstock tanks should also require a Fuel source to power the conversion, in the form of neutroamine (or alternatively "androamine" which you can make at a drug lab using human flesh and medicine, a knockoff Replimat catalytic fuel used by blackmarket colonies on the rim to run their bootlegged, warrantyless knockoff Replimat machines).

The rudimentary computer is capable only of operating the Feedstock tanks, and requires Server Racks (not flavourful but you get it) kept in an ultra-cooled room, each rack capable of powering only 2 access terminals each, and the rack(s) all draw much more power and put out way more heat when actively synthesizing meals. If your servers all run at 100% capacity at the same time they'll essentially return the server rack room(s) to above room temperature (from sub-zero), requiring air conditioning. This can be lessened by having more racks than necessary and/or isolating each in aggressively cooled sub-zero areas. They have say a 50% chance of breaking if their temp runs above 0 C while active. They have to be at -10 C to even initiate (or something). They "run" for like 10 seconds each time they "fire" collectively. Staggering pawn meals out could also be an effective coping strategy.

Also, maybe provide a slight malus (-1 or -2?) when either of the rudimentary components are used, for the food being /ALMOST/ real-enough but not quite. And probably also a slight malus to everyone eating it if using androamine (cannibals don't appreciate the waste either).

Either way, you should have to actively adapt to the Replimat technology to benefit from it, until you FULLY understand it. The default ''''OP'''' Replimat computer/feedstock tank would both be locked behind a third, far more expensive research (allowing default Replimat's "food literally doesn't matter anymore" vibe to feel like the end result of a gradual journey, rather than a gimmick). And maybe modify the recipe for the default feedstock tank to include a an absolute ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ amount of neutroamine or glitterworld medicine (which is used as a catalyst, rather than a fuel, hence being in the recipe), since electricity being the ONLY input and medium for the chemical process feels a bit weird irregardless of how appropriate it probably is for Glitterworld tech.