Yes it is. But MM is not always needed in every city. New cities for example can be fine with a build queue (hammers, nearby resources, ancient customs) and the occasional glance in the Domestic Advisor (happy, healthy, crime, disease, education) to insert a critical building in the queue.Micromanagement is what makes this game fun!
I often MM two or three cities while the rest is humming along nicely.
Indeed.At 50 you have basically won the game
One trick is to not be a war monger (and to not expand fast). I stopped declaring war, it is too easy to win like this. And if declared, then I allow myself to capture one city (and not raze any!). I also provide neighbours with strategic resources.
I have not passed Renaissance in years.... :-/Or going for the entire Tech Tree