@Mr Z. I can understand your point about your "simulation" type game. And that's just one of the reason I stay away from them. They are too "restricted" and don't allow enough "whatif I had been in command". But, for an historical simulation I understand very well you have to stay within parameters. Where you might improve COG in that sense then would be to improve the "tactical AI", make it stronger and smarter if you can. It doesn't have to enter Paris as the Turks, but, it could at least hurt the human players a bit more in damage and perhaps collateral damage as well.
Just an example of Mad Minutes AI. I had Gen Jackson and was wiping up on a yankee brigade in front of me, with the woods to my left flank, and out of the BLUE (hehe pun intended) here came a union brigage out of those woods on my left flank, I was shocked amazed and glad all at the same time. Fortunately I was able to mop up the brigade in front of me before the woods union brigade could get inline, then I preformed a sweeping maneuver from my right and eventually put them a runnin also, but, since I had to fight them from the open, I took some heavy casualties and had to withdraw from the front for awhile. Later moving to the sound of the guns in the east, where Jackson standing like a stonewall out in FRONT of his brigade got hit by a stray cannon ball and that was the end of that experience.
I love that game. Too bad they had to go an get a Paradox label on their next game, cause I will stick to my principles about Paradox games, no support whatsoever, ever again. But, I'll still get 2nd Manassas when it hits bargain bin. 
