Talenn,
I agree with you one hundred percent. But my mind won't accept it until I quantify it.
Here is the Last test I ran. Start a high dif/high bonus game with yourself and just one AI. Now, hit end turn ten times in a row before you take control of the AI player. Take a look at what he has produced. I tried this a couple of times. When I compared the cost of the ships and units to his production capacity and his resources, it seemed to balance out.
I gotta, gotta be able to demonstrate the higher production before I'll believe it. So, I have two theories for the AI's seeming abundance of ships. First, maybe there is something hard coded in the game engine that makes the AI play better? Second, maybe the increased research at the beginning of the game is playing a role somehow?
Do ya suppose I should offer a reward for the first person who quantifies this?
Thanks for your comments. I hope we can draw some other bright folks into this discussion.