Play rules are going to be too complicated guys.
I want to second the -1 option so that we can get information on what's in the opponent's deck. I also definitely want a total number of cards in deck, as well as the number of empty piles and maybe the number of cards in the pile which has the 3rd-least in it, to help try to figure 3-pile endings. I figure that's probably not too hard, whereas actually trying to figure out much more for 3-pile endings is going to be a bit difficult.
As for improving existing bots, it can be done for almost every one there is (if not every one), often pretty significantly. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
As for new strategies, it would be nice to have some, but I don't think there's tons and tons. I would definitely include the Duchy/Duke at least, and if I think of more, I will post them.