I wouldn't worry too much about the 3D-feature messing up priorities. It probably was something that they could implement with a little effort or that already had some basic building blocks there, and since it "sounds cool" you may as well add it as a cherry topping for advertisement value...

The main thing about v1.2 are the AI improvements and bug fixes. Plus the new parameters and options used in their implementation (and the event stuff) and thus available for new modding possibilities.

Sure, I want the UI improvements, too, and it's an important part as well, but AFAIK it is coming as they are also working on UI stuff that should reduce micro-management. See the last dev stream if you missed it.

So, waiting for v1.3, or next DLC, or expansion pack, whichever is coming out first.

Though, I do hope they caught all the good technical UI improvement suggestions from this forum. Maybe we ought to have compiled a list?