Well, I'm just saying that I finally finished Insane difficulty with 10 Insane AIs, with the only reloads being when I got an inactive quest tile from a Quest Map.  The rest of the text was just random commentary.

Actually, it took me around 15 - 20 playthroughs - and I eventually figured out that when the other settings are maxed, it's not a good idea to have Fast Tech Pacing (because the AIs already get 3 x research and production).

No, I will still play on lower difficulties.  It will be great if "Challenging" will eventually be able to provide a decent challenge without any AI bonuses.  It was just fun playing an "us against the world" type of game.  And if the next patch has Master Scouts no longer providing monster protection for cities, then beating Insane will be significantly harder, as you'll have to make sure your cities are always well defended against monster attack (and can no longer build near monsters).

Thanks for your additional reply (Reply #7), StevenAus.  I really was curious; and I hope that my questions did not sound too stupid.  In my defense       I should add that I am on record (in another Discussion thread) as having said:

                    " We all differ in what we find to be  *FUN*. " 

I went on to observe in that thread, that:  "I remain hopeful that Stardock will succeed in meeting pretty much  ALL  of our styles of play, and ideas of *FUN*.  For one thing, I am heartened that now the range of play is: Novice, Beginner, Easy, Normal, Challenging, Hard, Expert, Ridiculous, and Insane."  By that, I meant that I am glad, that there are  NOW  5 levels above medium/normal and 3 below; and therefore I expect that most of us should be able to find the level or levels that we will genuinely enjoy.  It's a Win-win situation; the more people that can find something they really love, in these kinds of games!

All of that said, I am still sometimes rather surprised at what some folks  DO  enjoy, as well as what they hate.  For my part, I have come to hate the micro-management of cities, that many older 4X games wallow in.  BUT, I know that there are some folks (in fact, I seem to recall that our frequent respondent Kongdej is one of them!    ) who absolutely LOVE the micro-management of cities -- and the bigger the cities, the better.  I don't understand that at all  ...      

BUT, I really do remain interested in finding out, all the diversity of features, that various folks actualy find to be  *FUN* !   Peace.   

Tuidjy, I found your observations above (your Reply #10) to be nuanced, and thought-provoking.  In fact, it got me to thinking that I would really like to know what level(s) of difficulty other folks are playing at, too.  So, I have started a new Discussion thread on that subject.  Thanks for prompting me to think about the subject, some more!  (Thanks also to StevenAus, for starting this thread.)