One note on SEIV vs SEV...
SE's II-IV are turn-based 4X games, and that's all they're supposed to be. RTS is an entirely different animal than TB-4X, and IMHO RTS has been thoroughly beaten to death (WarCraft, Age of Empires, et cetera et cetera), and has severe limitations on moddability.
Which leads to my next point. Yes, SEIV is primitive graphics-wise compared to other games out there, but this is a strength. It allows for easier moddability (and you don't have to be an expert at 3D graphics or programming, with a state-of-the-art PC, to handle it). Non-programming/artistic experts (like me) really appreciate that.
As long as SEV follows in that vein (4X turn-based, with moddability within the grasp of non-experts), I'll be happy.
Of course, I'll be keeping SEIV loaded, and looking forward to the SEIV Balance Mod...
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