You both make good points, this issue has been around since the start of the PzC series and is no worse in F14 apart from the greater amount of ranged weapons may make it
seem worse. I think we have all grown to accept that the ADF will not always do what you want it to and i think because we have got used to "god like" total control over our forces (which no commander really had) we tend to get frustrated at anything that is variable, it is just our human nature.
If you want to play a large scenario PBEM in a reasonable amount of time then ADF can be a downside, i believe it could be improved but will always be a variable that we cannot control. ;)
Ed is correct that a TillerCon discussion group is the place to really thrash these issues out face to face, it is a pity that the US is such a vast country and getting a reasonable amount of people to one spot is difficult.