Yes, because generals don't participate in the battles that they command.
Not sure how long your command queues are, but generally the next move or two is all I need / want. I can't see that translating into minutes. Then again, Wizzardry 8 contained the most boring combat I have had to endure in many, many years.
Like in Rome: Total War, you mean? Yep, helps to focus on the strategic battleplan, rather than the minuti