The thing I think Steve was gunning at was that they can't go "BOOOM HEADSHOT ULTRA-RTS GRAPHICS" and so on. You can't expect that kind of visual and epic quality from them. But what you CAN expect is a complex and awesome wargame. Damnit, I for one cannot wait. I'm sure this game will be awesome.
Oh, personal story time! When I first tried CM I totally went... Oh lord, the graphics. But MIND YOU, even that first time, watching the infantry engage some others, watching the replay and reactions. I got hooked. On just such a minor thing that wasn't even close to the big tank fest and awesome tactical experience that you could get. Sometimes it is so darned refreshing to have soldiers that act like soldiers and not terminators with fixed amount of HP that will just stand there gunning, hitting every round and eventually fly in the the air and stuff. Meh, I even remember playing the horrible G.I. Combat and enjoying it. Just because they tried to take Close combat into 3D.
To me, CM:SF is shaping up to become one of the best wargames ever. Unique and interesting engagements. Interesting StratAi that is different for each map and objectives that vary between the 2 forces. Man, I don't think people realise how brilliant this game could be. That is if it works.