Yes, especially with bigger galaxy sizes it becomes a real drag. Just an example: Sending a fleet halfway or completely through the galaxy has to be done system for system.
With a small galaxy and the right starting race choice you can always strife for a quick win by invading the home worlds of all others. Alternatively settling >= 2/3 of the planets.
There used to be an AI patch flying around but it didn’t do much in that regard. If anything the computer players felt more aggressive afterwards IIRC.
The thing we missed most back in the day was a multiplayer mode. That would have opened a whole new world especially in regard to the weak game AI.
