I agree, there is no best civ, and what I reakon is my fav changes as I develop more strategies. I am learning the scientific warmongerer atm, and I quite like the summerians (on diety) as you get the growth rate (ie. good chance of a 4 or 6 turn worker factory) and the cheap libs and free tech. I am also quite into the aztecs. Being able to do the warrour upgrade all the way through the AA, so all your production (sheilds and gold) goes to swordmen.