Am just starting on ES2 thanks to the free weekend. I gather there are two different uses for influence. As a currency for diplomacy, laws etc and as a thing you generate from planets that gradually increases your "sphere of influence" over nearby worlds - the more influence you create the more it grows.

1) If you spend influence I take it that it doesn't reduce the speed your sphere grows?

2) If you get a resource or other bonus that makes influence I take it that it can't normally be allocated to a specific planet to boost its sphere generation speed?

3) Are there "influence wars"? Ie if I and the enemy have planets with 'neutral' planets in between is there an influence 'border' between us that shifts depending on who is 'outputting' more influence?