Another one of my favorite games is Total War 2, and I've always imagined that Dominions could totally be created using that engine : )
Not that you'd cut 'n paste minotaurs over pikemen, but that a dominions game could be built using the way TW handles battles with masses of units while still having decent graphics. ^^
Except for perhaps a few minor interface issues and balance issues Dominions 3 really is close to a perfect game. The only thing that can recieve a major improvment is the presentation; the music and the graphics. With that done, look out, Spore
(or whatever high-profile strategy game we will see in the future)