I think there is indeed something wrong. I'm hoping Stardock will adress this issue so that it isn't such a hussle to revert to the default settings. One thing you can do is delete the raceconfig file in MyDocuments/MyGames/GalCiv2. This should reverse to the default.

There are some more weird points here.

When i do anything with the ability points with a race which have 'special' abilities like the yor +100 to loyaty or the drath legions +50 defence (which isn't in the regular ability list) the abilites vanished without any message. Players just don't see it.

Now the only way to get these abilites back is deleting the custom files in C:\Documents and Settings\windowsname\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2

For me is no sence to modify the normal races. You can even reset the complete race abilites. Why should this possible in a race properties. Should be only possible in custom race properties.

I don't think there's anything wrong, in that it's by design that you can change these abilities. Whether that design was a good idea or not is another question, but as far as I know, that's how it's "meant" to work.

In my opinion if it was by design it needs really to be changed because if i want to play with customized races i choose to play with customized races, but if i want to play with default race abilities (ever) it's really a pain that u have or to change manually abilities or to go every time to galciv2 folder and eliminate raceconfig file.Probably there is an high percentage of players which like to play with default abilities so it needs to be fixed