Well guys I gotta let you know I have spent some time with the demo and I am sold. What an amazing game.
It took some getting used to. The biggest thing that helped me was finding out that when you capture a planet it starts under-developed. If they mentioned that in the tutorials I missed it, and knowing me they probably did. Once I figured that out the AI whipped me no more. Just as I was about to plunge into his home planet the demo time expired, it doesn't let you play more than 90 minutes.
What blows me away is the depth and strategy I had available, not to mention the scale even in just a "tiny" game with 12 planets. And to think I could only experience the TEC in the demo, I mean the full game has two more factions with all their possibilities!
After Christmas I plan to pick this game up. I don't think I'll be ready for MP for awhile, but then again sometimes the best way to learn is to be a punching bag.