If you don't like the pantheons, Natan, then disable them. That's why I make everything possible optional (and I go to considerable effort to do so, I might add).
But I'll buff Ginger (more Food, perhaps?), and will check that the actual effects are working.
(Incidentally) An ExCE update will come soon enough. I've ran some AI-only games to test the stability of C&C, Mercenaries, and ExCE, and have had some consistent CTDs with ExCE (which is light weight, Lua-wise - especially compared to Mercs. and C&C, which ran 200+ turns without problem) that I'm hoping Gazebo can help investigate. So if there's other bugs or balance concerns, please report them before I release this update (even though you're blunt, I appreciate the feedback, Natan).