No, not quite! This is a feature you'll find yourself both loving and hating. Sometimes it can be infuriating, but on the other hand it is very pleasing that when your army encounters a scout they don't waste gems casting a load of massive buffs and so forth.
I read the thread title, and thought, "because it's just a game!".
File that under, "You know you play too much Dominions, when....".
I've actually been summoning fire elementals in my backyard... I just can't seem to keep them alive very long before they either turn into a regular mound of fire or quickly shrink to nothing. Upon opening this thread I was hoping to find some answers, but no luck.
I'm sure others here are having more luck than me and will post some suggestions.