Well, anyhoo. My primary point here is that, regardless of the merits of later titles in the Civ series in terms of tactical balance and MP-catering, they're not really scratching my particular itch for a idiot's-guide-to-psychohistory. (I have even devoted an unhealthy amount of time to plausible explanations for psychic gestalt worm-minds. Umm... biologically generated decentralised wireless communications? Maybe planet pearls are like transmitters, or something...)

It's good to rant! I actually feel better now.