First of all some clarifications:
1) I respect other points of view
2) I wouldn't mind an option to disable Vps if many players long for it
3) I agree with David Fair statements "theoretically"
but... I repeat, it's not a case most of wargames (tactical or strategical) use Vps, not for programming indolence. With all respect, I think most of you have not much experience in multiplayer where, unfortunately (not me) most of players want just to win and care nothing about realistic/historical behaviours. I didn't fall in any contradictions, the Total War example is very demonstrative: skirmish battles don't have "a sense", and armies should just crouch frontal each other, every battle is quite the same, and, most of all, why should I leave my initial position and just not get entreched? for what purpose? For gentleman agreement? For an honourable war conduct? Yes it would be nice but it' s not going to be that way except you are going to play just vs trusted friends.
Same for ai. It's not easy give it priorities goals without VPs, you will probably (as, once again, happens on Total War games) experience an ai who just follows and pursues your forces along the whole battlefield, like a dull cat and mouse-game ... it's really the kind of battle you are looking for? Anyway it would be nice if Nick or other guys involved would give their opinion... I may be wrong of course but decades or wargaming taught me something.
Ps
Sorry for my bad english