Whilst i don't dispute the ability of conquest mode to limit ranged and cav influence, I would be extremely disappointed if it were implemented on EU1.
If I want enforced goals and dumbed down tactics/teamplay, I'll play on EU2.
Having MOTF spawn always doesn't mean the game is only revolving around conquering a single flag. If you still win by kiling all enemies, you suddenly have TWO options to win. And the game mode itself actually can't influence whether you apply tactics or not, if anything it's more a matter of the reward system. And we all know how well the multiplier, who makes your rewards depending upon the performace of your team, did in encouraging teamplay. The answer is: multiplier helped jack shit. So nithing changes there.
And yes, complaining about enforced goals is like complaining that cRPG is not Garry's Mod. You ALWAYS have a goal, and yes, if it makes you win when you accomplish it and makes you fial when you ignore it, it's a forced goal. It's what every game in the world has.
The thing is, that "kill all enemies" is a goal which works only good for 66% of all layers, namely archers and cavalry, but not infantry. "take the flag or kill all enemies" on the other hand suits all classes. Which means that objectively, from a game design point of view, conquest mode is far and absolutely superior to battle mode.