Ok about the autumn patch ((- hoping we don't fall for it...j/k))
Played same civ, same startup on same earth map, from same startup location (via restart option). Same opponents. Here are my observations of the differences between BNW with and without beta applied. With beta: Civs not quite as aggressive. CS sent there ships many hexes from home in beta (never saw this in any other civ5 game). Barbarians less likely to attack in beta (suicide attacks = good/self preservation) (barb bows = bad, free ranged damage to nearby civ units is preferable to just sitting there as the civ closes). Civs offered many combo trades combining GPT, lump sum, strategicPT (often obsolete), and open border. Observation: many civs with a religion now try to bribe you with GPT to open your border (while not opening theirs), and/or sneaking player opening border in a long list of items in a trade package.
BTW, agree ^
maps from ruins are almost always an *extremely* poor result for player - they should be eliminated. However, an ancient map showing ancient trade routes to multiple city states / perhaps a continent away might introduce some interesting decisions - but frequency of maps should be decreased very significantly anyway - or eliminated completely.
religion change so that pantheon and generation of great prophet are equal for all civs. The penalty for getting maps instead of religion from ruins is also too steep. Perhaps a civ might be designed with a bonus towards accumulating religion points? Excepting that - all civs should have same thresholds for getting a pantheon and great prophets.