Detailed game, simplified combat?

Let me start off this post with the acknowledgement that I'm completely new.  I have not actually really engaged in full combat yet so I'm only basing this information on what I found in help, on the forums, and from some information that I found out from players in game.  If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.  Please correct me.  Otherwise, don't try to roast me too much since I did some research ahead of time.  :)  And I'm not fully criticizing, although I'm disappointed if the information that I did find out, and the assumptions that came from it, are in fact correct.

So I've noticed that a lot of aspects of this game are VERY detailed.  Detailed to the point that sometimes it's frustrating, at least in comparison to other games that I've played.  In order to make a spy, you have to make cows, cows turn into saddles, then saddles and horses for the spy to use.  That = detailed.  It's not just "click here to make a spy unit" or "click here to make an axmen", etc.  Very detailed.  Frustrating, but oddly I like it.  Usually.

Now, even with this type of detail.. combat is apparently absolutely bland.  Sure, you have a few changes based on geographical conditions and some luck (apparently), but there isn't much else.  There are no combat stages.  You send swords and ranged into battle in the same army, why is it not staged?  Why does ranged not hit first, then swords second?  Why is this lump summed instead of being as wholly detailed as the rest of the game?  I see a lot of intricacies on the simcity side, but lackluster on the combat side.  This would open up a whole realm to a better experience in the game by having to plan out your attacks and creating the best army depending on the situation, beyond if you're in trees or plains.

If this is just the way that it is because the game is rather new, then okay, that makes sense.. hopefully there are improvements are on the way sometime in the near future.  Or is this something that we should come to expect and it's to remain the way that it is?

Or am I completely off base in my assumptions because I have no field experience and should shut up?  :)

Let's discuss..

But maybe I am coming from left field on this.  I do find that due to the community (or perhaps due to the game, which influences the community), there is not much focus on the combat side of the game.  By no means am I a warmonger, or trying to become one, but I do look for balance in a game and this one just seems to lean heavily on civil communications between players and building/trading.

I understand the combat factors.. I'm just wondering why they stopped there.  I'm not asking for micromanaging when it comes to the actual battle (i.e. having to command the battle yourself in real time), but I think being able to impact what happens first (speed, range, etc) is vital instead of a lumped format of (a +b) = c, c * x = y, (y - d) = z, etc.

Complex battle systems lend themselves toward exploits, which yes can be interesting but also can be really frustrating.

Just my thought.