Great post!!!
Firstly I hated Company of Hero's. Thank god it was a freebie for me. Talk about click fest, a RTS in its ugliest sense of the word!!!!
Im hoping that TOW is a far more cultured wargame. One where RL tactic's can be employed as opposed to CoH's arms race. Give me gameplay over pretty effects anyday.
But as a fellow Graphic Artist I too hope that the icons are toggled (function key or tabed), they do detract from the battlefield view and immersion of the combat somewhat. As for the other suggestions, sadly with only a month to go before release, its too late...