Personally I prefer M/M since I found that the AI cheats like hell on the strat game too on the higher levels. Once I sacked Capua and raised all the buildings, made peace and handed the settlement back to the Romans. The next turn they declare war on me so I besiege Capua again taking it the very next turn. To my suprise the AI had manage to build a barrack, miss range, temple and trader in just two turns!!! On M/M I haven´t found any major "upsets" this far. This, and the fact that VH/VH isn´t that hard makes my games more enjoyable now.