this TU#3 is just getting uglier and uglier to me... plus posting in the thread never gets me any responses so here goes:

this time I just wanted to say I scoff at change #12 because it is just one more way the playing field is unnecessarily flattened. Unnecessary because anyone who ever thought about the mechanics behind (un)locking bases should realize that garrisoned troops will fight sooner and more effectively if released without a rally point to run to first.

Another part of my argument comes from my experience with a different (ex-favorite) console game of mine:

Look at Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Devs took out all sorts of neat/cheap little tricks advanced players could use to stand out from the average gamer from SSB Melee in SSB Brawl. This only led to the FAIL of the SSB series, to all my gaming friends at least. 

One reason is because everyone played the same way no matter the character. Great, 10+ characters to choose from? Too bad they're all the same -.-