Its challenging too since new players don't always realize what a threat a particular nation is, not to mention, having to organize an alliance against Ashdod every game becomes painful after a while. Games with Ashdod tend to feel like team games (when you can even rally the support) since you need to organize, coordinate, etc.
And while I am not a StarCraft player, I always thought that the balanced but unique nations is what made it such a success. I certainly don't think Dominions needs to be so finely tuned, but Ashdod at the moment feels extreme - like Shaquille O'Neal playing hoops on a European kindergarten court
