We can't forget the pace of the original C&C and the fact that you actually had expendable troops. I mean, you could get a base and army up in what? like minutes? That, then you could lose it and make another attack in seconds if your economy was good enough. What ever happened to that?
Generals is a damn joke, it's all about money, saving money, getting money, fighting over... oil derricks. The reason it's such a big deal is because even infantry are expensive as hell. like 300 for basic infantry. I don't know if it's to add realism or defeat the whole "expendable troops" thing, but I do believe it killed the game.