some different pieces get used and help out against high defense units ( EGM+BA) is why they changed the ruling. Demo spoke about how range combat formations were not being used because people did not have much of a reason too. CLose combat formation were done more because you got a +1 for each attacker past the first. It just sorta made sense for it to be a +2 to attack. Toughness is used more for reasons already stated. BA is not useless and can help out alot. Look at the armies you see alot, or the national from Germany and other places. How many of those armies had the units to do range combat formations? Of the ones that had the units, how much sense did it make to do a range combat formation? A scoprem and 2 gunners can do a a formation attack but does it realy make sense? Most players are going to take the risk of a 10 on an 18 with F/L then take a 12 on an 18 for 3 damage. Which one is the better choice would depend on a game by game case.