Can you turn them off? They drive me to distraction - same was in Forge of Freedom and Crown of Glory.
They weren't in AACW 1 and I don't recall people clamouring for wavy flags. Almost as bad a those jiggering smiley things on the right of the forum as I post this.
Perhaps it's an age thing, so to speak.
Overall it may be more modern, but it has lost some charm. Definitely an age thing I'm realising. Like needing two clicks to change stance instead of one.