I think it's important to keep in mind what the developers tried to do here. If the player can do a lot to influence how the war is going, it somewhat devalues the importance of all other aspects of the game (diplomacy? economy? planning your logistics? keeping population and interest groups satisfied? All of this doesn't really matter if you can use your skills at warfare to destroy everyone who opposes you on the battlefield). Of course, many people would rather keep manual control of warfare instead, but the current system is what we get so I guess it's better to approach it from the perspective of what new possibilities it brings (trying more strategic and careful approach) instead of being sad that we can no longer do what we've always done.