[apache]

Heh, you don't use mines, but you go around destroying stars? The AI has no reasonable ability to defend its stars. I doubt it ever builds system gravity shields, and it certainly does not park mines or sats or fleets on its own stars. At least if you are using mines, you know the AI will build minesweepers and use them, even if its somewhat ineffectually.
I use mines whenever I can/need to. They seal me off for a while while I can build a fleet or research warp point manipulation, or until the AI sends minesweepers through. A lot more fair to the AI than sending in one ship to singlehandedly wipe out a whole system.