Side stats were introduced in November 2009, and actually proved to be quite a controversial update.
They don't provide any information which cannot be found by looking at the map/game log. In fact, they're really there so you don't have to count up the number of troops your opponent has in a World 2.1 game.
Some might argue that estimating troop numbers is a game skill. Pre-stats, anyway. And similarly, putting the extra minute of attention into a game by checking the log to see what's happened and how many regions have been taken makes (made) for generally better moves.
Did the update detract from good strategy in that sense? And for those who joined after the update, how might it be different playing without the stats?
And bear in mind that such numbers are all provided by BoB, and more. That leads us on to ponder, "do add-ons provide an unfair advantage"?
