[Fyron]

And because I was an SE4 grognard, there is perhaps a tendency to see it as a betrayal when I criticise the game.

And what about all the criticisms coming from other oldbie SE4 grognards (including beta testers)? Though, admittedly, there probably aren't as many posted on these forums coming from the beta testers, since they've already had their say in the beta (and IRC). But I do see posts from some of them chiming in to agree with others, or add additional complaints, here and there... Why do you think the Balance Mod exists, if people are so deadened to criticism?

I commented that the interface sucked so badly, and was so click-intensive, that I'd had to break off doing the turorial because my right wrist started hurting. And you know what? I haven't played the damn thing since.

I don't play it much either, due to the playability issues (interface is just one of them). It's come a long way in the last few months, but there is still more to do. :-\

Possum said:
I cannot escape the nagging suspicion that SE5 would be a better game, and a better successor to SE4, had it come to fruition under the auspices of Shrapnel.

Neither Shrapnel nor Strategy First had anything to do with the development of SE4 or SE5 (other than hosting beta forums). Both are just publishers, not developers of the games.