Thanks, all.
I thought I was a bit harsh on the game, and no reviewer actually likes to point out bad things about a game they actually enjoyed (which I did). I also might have been channeling some of the frustration David had; I spoke to him briefly on the phone about his design issues with this game, and anyone that knows David knows what a stand-up guy he is. He never throws anyone under the bus and it pained him to describe to me the personal issues the map designer had. He was frustrated that the game wasn't all it could be - at least, that was my perception and I don't mean to put words in his mouth.
Bottom line is, this game missed on a few marks that could have been easy wins, but it's still strong enough to recommend for anyone interested in this kind of thing. If it's good enough to get over its issues, you know it's a good game.
