Been playing since the first Sins release and im thinking this has jaded me somewhat, I say this about myself to maybe explain my feelings.

Waited for awhile and rebought the whole the whole game (Trinty) from Steam as previously was still playing via Stardock, loved the progression to Entrenchment, then I started up Diplomacy, and loathed it with a passion but no biggie as you can turn off that portion, but then this Beta came out and this is where the direction issue raises its head.

Its become a sad parody, sure the Titans are nice but its all the increases in ways to spread culture, I watch star maps in the same way I would watch a bacteria spread out over a dish, i just bank up the ways to spread culture, build some super weapons and walk off, its losing its space combat strategic romp, to becoming a Cold War influence sim in essence its losing its fun.