But
@CrazyWizard, the mayority of players tend to combat due to the general consensus of it being easier (Fire Phoenix, Brown Bear, ...)
In fact, I have seen new players adviced to orient their citys to combat style (more Armories, less Manufactories, which Ancient Wonders are "a must" (Monastery/Santuary, DBulwark, Shrooms,...) and which should be avoided, ...) so they can start of advance more in Tournaments as fighting award them more prizes.
This is not just a player personal decision, but the consequences of the actual game design.
It should ring some bells, when veteran players are destroying AWonders or avoiding expansions in order to not increase fighting difficulty or some cities that keep stuck in some middle chapter without advancing in order to keep combat power. Both of them are valid ways of playing, but maybe devs should question themselves if thus is how they would like players to play .
I, myself, battle between chapters, as even without Fire Phoenix, I can reduce my product costs exponientally by using several (15+) expiring buildings and getting +500% health. That is for me the signal that both options are not balanced.
TL;DR
My point being, even if both of them are paths available to all players, not both have been made equal, neither equivalent, and IMHO both of them should be equally valid ways of playing.
EDIT:
TO ADMINS: Sorry, I think I may have take the discussion from the original post subject. I will stop here.