Speed is faster and great for resources, less planets though. Also... not that many active players overall. There's still some life in it. So you could try to give it a kick start again.

As I have only just started Standard seems the best place to learn and at my level there are plenty of targets.

Rhubarb ROCKS!!!! I love the tune too, I have it as my ring tone

and Cherryhog is Cockney rhyming slang for Dog, hence a Dog in my avatar.

Good luck