Ok, so I see that if you zoom in on a planet, you can see the rotation and the cloud formations, etc. And I see that if you zoom in on a star, you can sometimes see swirling gases on the surface. Those are nice little touches. How about some more like solar flares on the stars, or lightning flashes in the clouds of the planets? Maybe small meteor impacts on the moons? Ooh, how about binary star systems or pulsars? Sometimes it's the small details that set a game apart.

Lets get the economy straightened out, AI improved, UI easier and bugs fixed before we worry too much about this.

Well, I haven't really experienced any of those problems, so they didn't factor into my post. However, I think you're missing my point. My point is that everyone has AI's, everyone has UI's, every game of this genre has essentially the same core components. If they didn't, they'd either be in a different genre, or dead on the shelf. Yes, it's important to get through technical issues with the core components, but beyond that, what makes a person buy one game over another? It's the game's ability to distinguish itself. That's all I am saying.

...Ugh, screw that. There's too much emphasis on graphics in modern games, it's nice to see one that PLAYS. Also, such effects might make the game even slower on large maps.

Incidentally, I have seen a binary star system or two.

Incidentally, the best 4X game to date for me is Alpha Centauri and it had nothing to do with graphics.
The only quarrel I have with that game is the painstaking micromanagement that goes into building a military and building your cities. This is what appeals to me in GalCiv: you only build the 'improvement' and they upgrade themselves and your military draw from the general treasury instead of the city it was built in.

Anyway, the graphics of Alpha Centauri were minimal but they were enough to immerse the players. It is true that games can differentiate in the details but I prefer to find those details in well considered mechanics rather than eye-candy. After a while, graphics are taken for granted anyway. How long would you pay attention to solar flares? If you've seen them 50 times, you might even start looking for an option to turn them off.

A compelling story/setting, a good AI, detailed options and choices for the player and an in-depth game-mechanic are what makes this kind of game great. If you happen to be able to add some sweet graphics as well, you're golden.

Just my two cents.

I want to zoom in and see Jennifer Aniston sunbathing topless in her back yard!

My point is that everyone has AI's, everyone has UI's, every game of this genre has essentially the same core components.

Having those components and them being good are two different things. I am not saying they are not good in GalCiv2, I am saying they still could use some improvement. Improve the core components that make the game playable and enjoyable first. Once you have those really done, add a little eye candy at that point.