I thought about this for awhile and it probably comes down to testing builds and finding out they suffered huge performance degradation with too many assets along with already big problems. On top of that if we go with the rumors that it went from a FN/CoD play style back to a more BF style of game play they probably couldn't get assets ready in general.
The other thing I'd add to OP's list is wheres the evidence of the displaced populace. (Tent/Shipping Crate/Makeshift Societies) No one wants the Hunger Games Capitol city experience, rather the dystopian nightmare/I am Legend abandonment. Where everyone's fighting through heaps of broken buildings and littered/abandoned streets for scraps and tech for survival.
I agree.
The one thing BF 1 and V did so well, is give you that visceral war like atmosphere. From the harsh impact sounds and the shells...Esp 1 was really intense.
