Does anybody really think we can influence the game?
I 'll change a little the question
Does anybody really think that TE is a strategy game like Chess ?
No, as I wrote many times, TE is like Backgammon.
Skill are important but roll dice has also a big roll.
The World's champion of Backgammon can loose one game vs a noob who learned the game yesterday

* but still gonna win the championship (he or someone else with very high skills).