9th Edition Missions Are Boring

Potential controversial topic here but let's see where it takes us...

Under previous editions Warhammer 40K had a variety of mission types. As well as the standard hold the objective missions that we have these days, there were also kill point missions (score VPs equal to the cost of destroyed enemy units), capture table quarters and special missions such as The Relic. The reason why I at least, prefer these old style missions is that they were suitably different and gave variety to our games. The 9th edition missions being all objective based basically means that every game is essentially the same. Only a couple secondary changes really make them any different.

So, what changed? The 9th edition missions are heavily influenced by the old ITC mission format. The ITC (International Tournament Circuit) altered the missions because basically they felt the standard missions were not suitable for tournaments, and by suitable, I mean balanced for standard match play. The current secondary objectives system is also based upon additions introduced by the ITC. On one hand they may have been right but on the other, the argument can be made that Warhammer 40K was never intended to be competitive to the level that tournaments make them now. Technically the missions as presented were perfectly fine. Some where certainly more suited to certain armies over others, but that's the fun of playing. Take what you have and use your playing skill to try and overcome the obstacles presented against you. 

Games Workshop has obviously taken a lot of their recent direction from the ITC format. Objective based missions as the default as these favour tournament play. However, it forces even casual home games to follow the same path. Objective based missions are frankly dull and quite boring when that is all you play for two years. I'm hoping that if or when we get a 10th edition that things will change and we'll get a variety of default missions again.

Now, for those who play at home there is another option that I heartedly recommend. That option is to play the Crusade missions as matched play games. The Crusade narrative missions are much more fun to play than the default missions. They favour a casual approach where less competitive lists will work a lot better. They give the option to play units and detachments that you might not otherwise use, and that can only be a good thing. Your only problem might be convincing your opponents to try them as an alternative because Games Workshop push the more "balanced" matched play missions. But I can promise you that you'll have much more enjoyable games.

But that is just my thoughts as a casual wargamer. What are your thoughts on the missions as presented in 9th edition? Do you agree or do you think the perceived balance is more important to maintain? What about using the Crusade missions as I suggest? Have you done so and how did you find they played out? I look forward to hearing your responses.