My own opinion is that the current games played with the demo are limited in time, so people tend to rush the AI with full strenght, supercombattants, you name it. But the AI isn't supposed to handle such situations well, hence easier victories. Multiplayer tactics are usually not liked by the AI.
However, there are other concerns that cannot be explained this way: like the problem with unguarded Pretenders for example. But it seems like this problem is more along the lines of "Pretender forgot to seek reinforcements". I am still waiting to see what will happen without the turn limit, if late game AI armies are featuring stronger units or not. If it is the latter, I will start to be worried.
I would like a confirmation: is Dominions AI cheating? I would tend to believe it is not the case. If so, Dominions AI is really not that bad, and is one of the few AIs that does not rely on extra resources to provide a challenge. And I will be then in the side of "The AI isn't that bad, really". Finally, if you do want additional challenge, you may very well give the AI units/abilities/items and so on like someone mentioned in another thread dedicated to the AI. (If you are reading me, I am sorry, I forgot your name. You shall be called henceforth the Anonymous Poster, if you don't mind that is. *Silly me*)
Edit: it was Nagot Gick Fel in
this thread , about halfway down in the page. (At the moment of the writing that is)
[ November 02, 2003, 19:47: Message edited by: Alneyan ]