I believe his meaning is that once a game with two skilled opponents ends, the other players might be encouraged to delay the end of their games so that they will not meet a very tough opponent on next turn. However, I don't believe this would actually happen.
Joachim, I don't know how many more battles were needed to destroy my happiness levels, but I do think it was pretty close. If you were very mean you might have sent this ship of yours to blockade my tiny rock planet in the Last system you invaded, as stalemates hurt morale if memory serves right. Or even a war declaration might have been enough. But still, I now see why you should built these mines before going on the offensive, especially when all your ships are only here to try to hold an additional, much needed system. So I believe you will definitively win, but I shall try my best to remain alive for a while.
