Love the new version! Especially the new soundtrack. My only discontent is that all AI factions have become too stubborn to negotiate with. It kind of takes the fun out of diplomacy and makes it feel like its you versus the world. Perhaps the AIs attitude towards you should be made into something between what we have now and what we had in 2.02 for the next release?
EDIT: At least for easy/medium campaign difficulty. Hard of very hard should have a difficult diplomacy.