Control-N will reset the map without restarting the game.

Used to - they nailed that long ago. If your still finding that with a fully updated product let support know.

I hear the thoughts, I also prefer widespread Races on the map, as like you, I hate "colony rush" games, I'm the builder type. However there are as many preferences as people playing the game, to make everyone's preference an "option" is not practical.

I just cntrl-n a few times. Sometimes I get the impression the AIs are moving slowly, or not at all, and I'll check in-game on their intelligence levels, but since they nailed that one, I have not found an instance of it - its more the AI also in "build mode", there's nothing to colony rush for, everyone is widespread.

Regards
Zy

Go to the "Foreign Policy" button centre of the bottom collection of buttons on your screen, in the Foreign Policy screen select the "Misc" tab, look centre of screen you will see five attributes listed, the one your looking for is "intelligence"

To view another race, just select the relevant race icon in the main part of Foreign Relations

Regards
Zy