[Warshed]

The fact of the matter is that I don't expect a superb AI that does tricky stuff that humans normally do, I just want an AI that pushes his advantage when he knows he has one. I don't think it would be too hard to incorporate into an AI some sort of manner of checking the ranking for other empires.
For instance, suppose we gave a real generic value to each component in the game and some sort of value to the each ship size in the game. A given ship would have a value dependent on the components it has and the size it is. All the given values of an empires ships would be added together to form the ship strength of a given empires. When it is the computers turn, it consults this value of all the empires boardering it and divides that value by its own ship strength value. If the resulting number is sufficiently below one then the computer has a certain % of deciding to either declare war or start negative diplomatic negotiations. If the resulting value is sufficiently high then the computer will be more inclined to ask for non-aggression pacts or accept trade treaties, etc.
I think that the AI of SE 4 is good, don't get me wrong. I mean when the computer sends mine sweepers through a heavily mined area, I think it is great.
I just want the computer to be more mindful of when it has an overwhelming advantage and to act realistically accordingly.
I will try the TDM-modpack. Hopefully it will provide a challenge. Thanks, everyone for your replies.