With respect to the league, cheating is using an editor or a 3rd party program to gain an unnatural bonus or to go ahead through means that would not normally be possible in the game.

The reloading of the turns is something that I know many people do and isn't actually cheating when it comes to correspondence games, nor counted as cheating for the league. Think of it like chess (if you've ever played correspondence chess) - you can move the pieces around to try to guess what the other player would do, which isn't normal for otb game of chess.

it just isn't something that can be enforced unfortunately, whereas using other programs to gain unnatural bonuses is something that can be caught and has been caught.

Thank you for clarifying. This is a huge thorn off my chest. And yes, I have likened playing Civ on GMR like correspondence chess, which I have played.

Thanks again!

I think multiple reloading of the turn IS cheating especially in early part of game when looking for ruins. Its impossible to detect and so must rely on individual gamer moral.

imo since you can get additional information from moving units, reloading, move in other direction and reload again, this is actually cheating.
but atm there is no way to disable "realoading". so it is best to allow it for all players... :/

If it makes you sleep better at night, don't do it.
Just know that at times, due to a misclick or actual treachery, other players have probably done it against you. It is actually hard to avoid at times.

Getting information you are not supposed to have is cheating.
Unenforceable rules mean limitations for leagues fought with some wager or risk on the line, since yes, you have to yield to "the game as it really is".

But in theory? In philosophy? You're cheating and you know it is because you're doing a thing that isn't the definition of the game, -and you can know it-. It's completely simple to define "don't reload / reverse" decisions. It's not provable, but it is perfectly knowable.

If people are reloading in games played for friendly competition, no prize or 'tournament elimination', I am... not a happy camper.