Hi folks. As new kid in the forum and a connoisseur of the SP game system (although not especially successful at it), I'd say that the most challenging way to meet the AI is by playing advances and assaults. That way, the AI has a tendency to wait, and the ball is in your court; you must take the initiative most of the time. With meeting engagements it's often too easy to simply grab a VH and then set up an ambush, demolishing the armor that usually charge toward it.
void1984 is right about human opponents. Trouble is, people like me who are somewhat digitally challenged (as it were
) find the PBEM feature a bit cumbersome and error-prone. I've tried two or three times with Spwaw, and each time I wound up sending back my opponent's turn by mistake after a couple moves. Never could figure out what I was doing wrong. However, the advice in the SPWW2 manual--to play a quick PBEM with yourself--seems eminently sound, and one of these days I'll try it out.
Thanks for your kind attention. In closing, please allow me to thank the wonderful people at Shrapnel who've made this outstanding tactical simulation possible. Cheers.