But on the other hand, an AI that beats humans using brute force in a game where it makes a ton of difference isn't much fair too.
"Brute force" in AI context is usually reserved for traversal of the entire search space. I think "superhuman micromanagement" is a better term. And before AlphaStar superhuman micro wasn't insurmountable obstacle for human players.
At that point the name of the game will be maximizing the advantage the body/infrastructure provides the AI, not minimizing it.
Weird.