I mostly played 2. It was simpler and had a lot of action. Later games became more tedious, I didn’t think the advancements in diplomacy and other stuff were good enough to displace that.
On the other hand I never really wanted the games to end. Whenever I would get close to the end I would start playing in a way to delay the end.
You can’t say there isn’t anything to it. But for sure I agree it isn’t the whole story.