This was something I noticed in Trinity as well, where sometimes the AI (regardless of faction or game settings) will build what seems to be hundreds of scouts and then fly them around as if it's using them as part of its fleet. Only, it will keep them out of battle like it normally would do with scouts, so the whole situation puts the AI in a comically handicapped position.

Is there a reason for this mass scout-building behavior? It cuts down on the amount of real ships the AI can field. One game back in Trinity I saw literally 200+ seeker vessels flying around in formation with the AI's capital ships. It's hilarious but frustrating when your ally you've worked so hard to build rep with is nearly useless because they've used up all their fleet supply with scouts they never intend to use.

Is this a common bug with Sins?