I haven't pickup the game (yet - need new system first!), but I am wondering if the game has an option to turn Wonders off. If the game doesn't, could you do this through text file manipulation like SMAC, and if so, how does this affect the AI?
You can do this with a quick custom mod. Check "never build wonders" in the Governor section of each civ. Then the AI will never build wonders. Then, don't build any yourself, and you have a wonder-free game.