LOL. I'm the one making a strawman?
We deserved a better, much more polished and complete game on release. But this game is developed by Relic. Do you understand what that means? Should some of us not be surprised that it is unfinished, just like the last one? Are we not allowed to reasonably adjust our expectations based on their track record?
Yes, you literally presented the situation as: expecting more than two maps was equivalent to expecting 2023 COH2 amount of maps, or being naive with COH3 expectations.
Also, Relic's opinion:
"The legendary strategy franchise is back! Bigger and better than ever, Company of Heroes 3"
This second excuse is valid. You might have the correct expectations and predictions on the product. But that doesn't mean it is a good product now, you just knew it will roll out as early-access version which will take 1 year to get into that "Positive" review average.
People can be wrong to expect a better product, they don't know the history or aren't doing research, but they aren't wrong to review it as unfinished/negative/disappointing.
My problem is with the people who review the game based on its future potential. I will gladly amend my opinion, admit that the game is good now, applaud developers who listen and work hard, invite people to play with, but not earlier, and definitely not with Relic who already scuttled DOW3.
+ There is a path through early-access. Honest way to release unfinished games, collect revenue and grow them as you expand. I have read enough arguments which suggest that Relic had no other choice but to release the game. Relic lied to us and that always makes it worse: people come with inflated expectations of a good "bigger and better than ever" product, and they crash against the reality of early-access "we hear ya".