Similar thing here: I did not like it for the first time, partly because I did not bother to read the manual or this site and partly because I am a TBS (=turn based strategy) player (Civ3 rocks) Actually I even played it like a TBS: autoresolving every battle which of course took away the fun... ;)

Anyway half year ago I reinstalled and gave it another chance, and I am hooked. Learned how to use the units and how to handle the battles. Now I can turn the tides in battles and have the feel of it, developed battle instincts. Cool, ha?

After the initial skirmish I kind of *know* how the battle will go. And there is no greater satisfaction than tire the enemy from a hilltop, decimate them with arrow and when the poor quality troops start to break n run and rout I charge downhill and the enemy chain-routs...