I never played vanilla, I always modded my game to 2TPY. When you mean rushed, do you mean that in general you feel rushed to meet your goals, or rushed in that the AI keeps harrying you? As for the first, I've never felt that because I play a 900 turn game. As to the second, I'd have to say it depends honestly. Playing at my own pace and selectively going to war with certain factions works out fine and I can progress at my own pace. However, there have been a few instances where I bit off more than I can chew, and I start a war with a neighbor (or vica versa) and the others smell blood and all jump me. In that case, yes I'm hard pressed to fight or maintain several fronts. Invariably when I start winning, I have to make the choice of whether or not to expand and if so where, and along what fronts. Given the right opportunity it's very easy to overextend yourself.

Cheers