I can say I have no issue with the removal of "features" if it ultimately leaves to a better game.

I look back to MOO2, which I started playing only about a 1 year ago, and I realized what everyone was talking about. Even though it is such a simple game compared to today's standards, there is a "just one more turn" factor in that game that is hard to replicate. I think part of that lies in that it is very good at what it does.

I look at a game like Endless space, which I thought was a good game, but some of the math behind its combat mechanics are just unseemly (and I like math, I play with spreadsheets for fun!). And ultimately all of that complexity didn't amount to much, it didn't really change your decision making in a meaningful way.

So in general I am fine with a few key mechanics that are very strategic and really have impact in the game, then layers of complexity that ultimately don't change much.