I have no idea why UBI decided to treat this game like they did. This game set a standard for a whole new sub-genre within RTS games.
It had good balance between economy, base building and fighting the enemy. Actual map control (instead of just the tiny pockets where the resources were) was a thing here.
Aggressive play was rewarded, so was proper scouting, intelligence was not just a matter of sending a few units towards the enemy to see what they had. It could be manipulated.
Terrain had properties you had to keep in mind, since being in the wrong territory with the wrong units could topple the unit power balance. Reading the map, and the information it gave you, and judging it properly, were key points.
And the whole "you are looking at the battle from the planning table" feel made it all the more immersive.