Slitherine

I enjoy the harder battles that are possible when playing at harder difficulties in the campaign (they're challenging and make for great screenshot and GIF harvesting), however I struggle to avoid more casualties than can be replaced quickly and without rushing. In addition, the economic reductions imposed at harder difficulties means that I don't hold much interest in playing harder difficulties, due to the increased grind.

By splitting the difficulties, it becomes possible for those who enjoy the larger, tougher battles, but not the increased grind, of higher difficulties to do just that, rather than being stuck bored by the AI at lower difficulties or feeling sick of the grind or struggling to keep economically at harder difficulties.

I think that'd be a nice additional option that helps replayability and adjusting to player desire.

Yes. So much yes to this.

I would like this a lot as well.

I have only my own experience to go off, but the Cylon fleets seem at least somewhat more tactical in combat in higher difficulties, which is great. At the very least they like to go after my defend targets (civilian ships etc) more. But the cost inflation on restock/repair/jump makes it a lot more tedious.