Free DLC was intended from the start, and the temporary sale is to capitalize on it. Eugen has shit for money, so they need to be on the Steam front page as much as possible to succeed.
This game has more strategic depth than most RTS I've played in a long time. Unit facing and position is important, as is proper scouting. With a few notable exceptions, you have a reason to use just about every unit in your roster.
And yes, you do sound like a troll because you are lazily deriding a game you've never played in the face of people saying it isn't like that at all.

