BruceR:
The ReadMe file of your RealPara mod is, in itself, a great work, not to mention the actual Mod. You make some very compelling points above, too. I see it differently in two ways, though:
A game that allows mods allows fans to create scenarios that would otherwise never merit publishing, let alone the man-hours of game development. Take, for example, the Winter War and Rumanian Mods for CC. These mods re-create, in game-fashion, lesser known engagements between lesser-known units that would otherwise never see the light of day. Don't the men who fought these battles deserve monument as well? Certainly it meets the desires of the people who have a keen interest in these engagements and who might have relatives that fought these battles.
Additionally, I think there is a community facet to mod making that enhances the buzz surrounding the game and extends the game's presence long after it should have quietly died in the bargain bin. This is a double edged sword, however, as mods and mod making may fixate certain gamers on the old version, preventing them from adopting the new release -- affecting in a *small* way the sales of the new game.
Kudos to BigTime Sofware for the way they went about using player feedback.
Dan