What for the most part makes the game interesting is Role Played races. One can be an evil mischieveous race peddeling filth through out the galaxy, and then turn their strategy around in another game being the Pope.
If one plays the game in the same style in every game, another player can learn their strategy and in a sense that is a form of "knowing thy enemy" intelligence/espionage which could be in that grey area of backstabbing.
Now in games where it is established that role playing is welcome, I don't think that this should reflect on the actual player no matter what he/she/it does, short of cheating.
It's a game and it is a simulation of diplomacy and war. And if anyone can say that their is honesty and fuzzy stuffed bears in real diplomacy and war, I would love to hear it.
