Re: Pon Farr, and reproducing Vulcan Culture
Oh, I agree with that.
I just don't see them popping out babies all that often. I see it as "socially acceptable" for Vulcans to acknowledge that relationship once every 7 years by having babies only at that time.
Maybe pregnancies closer than that could pose physical hazards as well. For instance, many fertile human women are physically capable of having a baby every year, and rarely you might actually see a woman with 20+ kids. But this isn't easy on a woman's body and usually comes with high infant mortality rates.
Also, consider the 200+ year lifespans of Vulcans and how many years are likely to be considered childbearing years. Say they can reproduce from maybe their 30's to over 100 years old. Even with "only" 1 baby every 7 years, a Vulcan woman could produce quite a number of children during her lifetime.
Basically, I don't think speed is of the essence for Vulcans to repopulate their society. It just takes time.
I don't really see them wanting to reproduce that quickly. When it is both biologically and culturally normal for them to have a baby every 7 years in a family with two married parents,
Was it ever established that Vulcan are only able to mate every seven years?
I thought they had to get busy every seven years; but there was nothing stopping them from mating more often.
-frank
Oh, I agree with that.

Maybe pregnancies closer than that could pose physical hazards as well. For instance, many fertile human women are physically capable of having a baby every year, and rarely you might actually see a woman with 20+ kids. But this isn't easy on a woman's body and usually comes with high infant mortality rates.
Also, consider the 200+ year lifespans of Vulcans and how many years are likely to be considered childbearing years. Say they can reproduce from maybe their 30's to over 100 years old. Even with "only" 1 baby every 7 years, a Vulcan woman could produce quite a number of children during her lifetime.
Basically, I don't think speed is of the essence for Vulcans to repopulate their society. It just takes time.