There is a raw max to BE and ME. Don't worry about it though, you're not going to reach either one of them. The max raw BE is around 250% and the max raw ME is around 300%. These numbers may have changed but I doubt it. And raw ME makes forts and tgs more effective. For example say your raw military ME is 140%(most only get around 107%) and you're getting +20% def and off ME from the tgs and forts. That 20% is modified by the 140% rawME.

I have a question about the new science system. What do you guys mean when you say soft cap?