Hoplite;

That you seem uncomfortable with these exploits -enough to ask -
is I think your own answer; to your question.

None of the exploits you mentioned applied to multiplayer -

Can you 'cheat' the computer?

You used the word 'cheap'; and again i think that is your answer.

Is it as rewarding to you to know you are winning on "cheese" as they say?
it's not as though the AI is a horribly competent opponent most of the time
( i saw a couple of tricks tonight that caught me by surprise- just by being unpredictable)

Anyway; you have to decide for yourself what is acceptable, since no one else is impacted by how YOU play YOUR single player game.

My opinion is -
I'm the kind of person that set kings purse to ZERO and wouldn't play england until the AI got more aggressive navally.
Last time I quit playing M2TW was because it drove me NUTS that the AI's mounted BigBads couldn't dismount (even before the battle) and were getting attrited by my on-wall units inside whatever fortress...

i try to avoid reloads -
I myself do it when the 'pathfinder' does things i consider inexplicable.