Will we get intense frontline battles?

I am of the belief that Sup2 attempted to cater to what the majority wanted (or at least what the majority publicly said they wanted, which is a separate thing to what they needed and separate again to what they deserve). I am also of the belief that it didn't work out very well.

I would believe that it achieved the desired effect, but not without loss.

Ah yes, those guys and their speedmetal maps. They were, and still are, a minority.
Yeah, those maps exist and they are played by people, not by noobs, who just want to play what you described as "robot meat grinder simulator". But to be honest I never cared about those. It indeed screwed up the whole gamebalance. My 3 servers at that time never allowed any speedmetal maps to be played.