I think there is a lot of doomsaying here.
PP is a great company which managed to survive a transition from home company to a giant, with extremely good communication with the fanbase. At these volumes, you can't satisfy everybody, in fact, the more you try the more you stray from a good model they obviously have.
You say there is no "elaborate mechanics"? I guess we all forgot what innovation focus/fury were back in the days.
How having a central figure that shapes your army (same as in Malifaux) strayed from the concept of other games.
So my praise where it's due.