You're referring to picking the "reseed random number generator" advanced option and reloading until you get what you want, right?
I agree it's human nature. (And yeah, I've done it.) However, you can only get about one upgrade per every three ruins even with reloading. There's some sort of "cycling" count kept.
No, (I wouldn't use the reseed random number generator), but if you reload after an unsatisfying ruins and wait one turn, then you more often than not get a different outcome.
One upgrade every three turns, that's interesting, so if you had seven ruins in (your area) and you had the patience you could get three upgrades?
I seem to remember in civ4, scouts had a better chance of something good from a then (goody hut)! Perhaps they could implement something similar?