Hello Grim and welcome to MWLL beta =)
I'm in about the same boat as yourself, played all the previous iterations if MW on the PC, but have yet to step into the tabletop realm (although I may soon delve, as I'm also into warhammer 40k). Also been playing this game for about 3 days. I have about the same awe when it comes to the graphics, and especially the sound effects. I'm going to offer a little bit of a different perspective regarding your gripes, so hopefully you'll get a better picture of what you're looking at.
As far as the lack of features go, you are correct in pointing all of them out. Right now all we have is one team deathmatch style of play, with only 5 maps to start with (there are a few more you can download, and several servers are running them as well). What you need to consider, is exactly what you stated. This is a beta (I swear that should be a meme on these forums!).
When I say beta, I look at the game differently. What we have here is the culmination of ALOT of work from the devs, on a project that has alot of potential, and a long way to go. Instead of keeping this in alpha for a few more years, they were nice enough to slap together a working model and allow all us mech heads a chance to duke it out, and get a feel for their work so far. All of the features (and most of the mechs) you're asking for are slated for development. There are also some issues of balance with a few of the units available, but this again is something that will be worked out (most likely after all units are added, so they can concentrait on a sweeping balance with the whole picture in view).
Also keep in mind, this mod is being developed completely free, and the devs are devoting their spare time... aka this is extra work for them on the side, not their day job (and they're not getting paid for it!).
Regarding your Atlas needing to be the king of the battlefield, keep in mind you're playing against real people... real mechheads, who know the weapon systems and ranges of their unit choice, and are also learning some teamwork to gang up on you. The online versions of mech (the old versions but especially this mod) are alot more tactical in comparison to the campaign/single player missions you may be used to playing. Your opponents are using max range, mobility, and cover to counter your extra tonnage. The old style AI opponents from all the other mech games pretty much just run at you in a straight line even if all they're equipped with is LRMs on a catapult, then circle you at 100m or so.
Alot of players like the circle of death, and brawling in general... but if this is your playstyle, you'll need some support from your teammates in other assets to get that giant slug of doom up into the enemy's face. Assaults need support from mediums to really win the day =) The spirit of the mod is combined arms, tactics, and teamwork. With all the strengths assault mechs have, they also have some serious weaknesses... mainly a lack of speed and mobility, coupled with being a huge target. If you're just going 1vs1, an experienced Battle Armor player can ruin your day, and you'll never get a decent shot off on him.... however, your teammate behind you can pick him off easily with one shot.
Keep playing, keep having fun, and definitely post up suggestions and call out bugs you don't see posted on the forums here!
