Does anyone else try to play with a "high" AI bonus

[Krakenup]

I always play with high bonus. I play with a large quadrant with 10 to 15 computer opponents - usually hand picked from the TDM ModPack. If there is an AI next door and he finds me early, he usually attacks continuously so that I don't have time to do anything but defend. The construction bonus means that the AI can build one warship per shipyard per turn - more than I can defend against. If, however, I have a little room to colonize and time to research, I'm usually strong enough to defend by the time they find me, and I can eventually win.