It couldn't be this complicated for you guys, could it? Making a 3D gameworld with 3D combat takes 6x the dev time (or whatever it is) than a stationary 2D background on a hex grid. If TOW was isometric with the same budget and dev time there woulda been that many more quests, that many more maps to explore and that much more reactivity in the gameplay. It's a pick your poison thing when it comes to AA budgets. If TOW 2 has a AAA budget, dollars to donuts it's gonna be deep as heck.
Also 3D vs. iso is a preference thing when it comes to RPGs. It's like saying Zork is better than Bard's Tale because you prefer games without pictures. Well ok. That's fine. Cool story.