I thought this might make a good discussion point for those interested in game design and balance:
Is 'Knowing Everything' good for building and resources?
To explain further: is it better to (a) have precisely predictable growth and development, or (b) should some of the variables that contribute to the costs of a player's growth be hidden or complicated, so that they cannot be exactly quantified in advance, but are understandable in general effect?
This question could be translated as:
Is realism fun, or is realism an obstacle to fun?
N.B: This question could potentially address map data, and other things that are available instantly in Illyriad, but which are generally not available in real life without doing work. This might include 'fog of war' or communication delays, which have been discussed elsewhere.