1. The AI has never followed "a strict set of priorities" w.r.t. to army AI as it's more complex than that, and it's quite impossible to tell why it chooses to do what it does in your case without a save. Upload please.
2. IDD, I've experienced the uncolonized territory issue myself but I've forgot to save on those occasions. Again, you can probably see what I'm implying here - need save or repro.
2. IDD, I've experienced the uncolonized territory issue myself but I've forgot to save on those occasions. Again, you can probably see what I'm implying here - need save or repro.