Its not all about micromanaging your little tokens (although that can be great fun if you maintain a tiny little empire)
Rolling in huge fleets to support your allies against a huge and powerful enemy is great too:
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...an1_turn05.jpg
And using 300 ships with complementary strategies and designs plus a tide-turning strategic manoeuver (pincer attack FTW) to overcome an enemy force of 400? That's golden.
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...Tudran2_02.jpg
Once you get up into that level of the game, the little guys don't matter so much anymore... Manoeuvers, supply and politics become key. Individual planets fade, and become defensive lines and shipbuilding provinces.