I think if the range would not always be shown, only when trying to place buildings or when clicking on it, it would actually be fine. Range indicators are nothing new, many other games outside the Aoe franchise use them. But in most cases they are used to get a better feeling, so you can use them less over time as you get a feeling for it. Being able to always see the range pretty much throws this whole experience out the window. You do not learn to play around range of things, you learn to play around a stupid line. If you atleast had to put in some “work” to see the range, clicking on the building for example - fine, extra information for extra work I guess.
I don’t get why people compare it so much to small trees. I also don’t understand why they didn’t add that mod as a possible option in settings. Small trees reminds me more of people that turn down graphic details, so pretty but distractings effects are not shown. It does not actively change how you play the game, just adds more clarity to it so you are not lost looking at way too big trees. Range indicator on the other hand influences in a completly different way. It pretty much tells you where you probably don’t want to go and what path you should take to get around different buildings. Before range was always very abstract, knowing how far something can reach was not really possible on the pixel perfect level. You took risks by getting closer, maybe getting show at but at a chance for a better position. And this playing around range is now completly gone, atleast for buildings. I mean now I just place my single crossbow exactly out of enemy tc range behind the woodline to really annoy my opponent, and finding this perfect position doesn’t even cost me any time at all.