You know why you don't like the lower levels? It's because you see the patterns for victory and you religiously follow them. To the point that it Kills the fun. You just said so yourself "cheats=on" for Noble.
Instead of playing the patterns try the less traveled road. Sure you'll get caught off guard and may have to struggle or even lose a city or 2. But heck maybe you can squeeze in that happy building before that nasty AI stack arrives and get that 1 more unit built just in time, or not and get caught with your pants down. But so what! Can you recover? Sure if you follow the "pattern". But what if you don't?
Your actually stuck in a rut of familiarity. Get out of the Box! Try a different approach, a way you've not traveled before.
But of course I speak of whim and whimsy of which you are not familar.

You only know "logic" and it's companion "analysis". I don't know if you will ever have "Fun" with this game or it's opposite angst.
I wish you well, but your "path" isn't fun.
JosEPh