bbq, you really should thumb through the FAQ. It has so much valuable information in it that is has become the preferred manual for those who have pirated the game.
Seriously, no game that I know of has ever had a manual that explains everything to you. In fact Moo3 shipped with one of the worst manuals I have ever seen in my life. Tribes shipped with a good manual but it did not tell you how to ski or sniped while flying. These were things that had to be learned.
Now we all agree with your furstration over having to learn things on the go, we have all been there, but you can benefit from our experiences by reading the FAQ.
SE IV really needs a strategy guide, and believe many have tried to write one. I am, or have been, working on one for over two years now. The problem is simply, to much info for my tiny little mind to encompus its self around and put into readable form.
That and a general lack of interest from the community.
Really it is the time consideration. The time it would take to sit down and go through the whole game and create a players guide is enormus to say the least.
Now I doubt you will read this post, but if you do, I hope you will also take the time and read the FAQ. Good luck and happy playing.
And yes, some things do need fixing for SE V.
And Aaron has a huge list going already.