Just as I suspected, no espionage system, and this game is going backwards.
Yes because a never-before-seen in GC mechanic (mercs) is "going backwards". And espionage is still on the road map, it's just been pushed back a bit,
If your "going backwards" comment was about the inclusion of the Torians and Acreans, well all I would have to comment on is that including an espionage system ala GC II would also be "going backwards", no?
It seems to me that you're just upset over how the game is going backwards, not that it is. 
Finally, people have been clamoring for the Torians and Acreans to come back into the game. So if this is "going backwards", may there be much more of this in the future!