I will have finished the last tech of chapter 17 by tonight, and then finally be able to sell my behemoth ships. But I regularly do provinces (both catering and autofighting) through at least the first 3 pages and sometimes up to 40 provinces. I don't always make it to the top of the spire, but on our pushes I always do and the rest of the time it's either silver or gold. I don't consider myself unusual.
Satchmo, I hear the frustration in your voice and I sympathize. But we have some great tools on this board. Crackie's done an excellent job with battle tips in the scrollkeepers section. If you'd rather cater, do what I do and concentrate mainly on t1 factories, so you can trade up instead of down. Most people don't mind crosstrades if you're giving planks and want gems, for example. They hate the other way around (and most cross trades are the other way around.) You'll get lots of goods for catering with t1s.
Some things are a lot better than they used to me. Remember the horrid collection in the FAs of the past? Remember when you had zero pet food buildings or other rare commodities? Remember the days before you could craft, before you could earn diamonds in the spire, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. Some things are a lot better. Yes, some changes I could have done without. But overall, this is still the best game on earth, which is why it's the only one I play anymore. So come on and get happy! Try the scrollkeepers section and look at things with new eyes. Everytime I get frustrated with something, I think of all the good things that have happened. We've got a lot to be thankful for here. Good luck to you!