Dizz, I would counter that losing your navy doesn’t mean you’re dead, just on the defensive. I took out the Axis fleet in the Pacific, but Hisachi and Yamamoto have both been collecting in their 60s for awhile thereafter. Even with full control of the Pacific, it can take a long time to truly crush someone.
So don’t despair if you fall on hard luck, you’ll still be in the fight for some time affecting the war.
It also encourages a nice mix of units, land/air/sea, as many compliment the other. Amphibing, inf support from planes, etc.
I also enjoy the fact that there is more back and forth, with counter strikes instead of two giant stacks and that’s it like in Global 1940. Here there has to be some counter assaults to stop blitzing. Mechs can move THREE! and if you have a giant stack of all inf as Russia, Germany can skirt around you and threaten a capital. It’s good to have a mix of 1, 2 & 3 movement units for both offense and defense.
There are a lot more tough calls that force you to look into the future. Do I buy 3 infantry that can move 1, or 1 mech that can move 3 and support? Where is my front line going to be after counter attacks, etc.?