Not people in general -
you, in PbeM.
Just 'cuz you just raised the point(s) (and it might be useful to contrast PbeM and AI):
* Actually, in CW2, I haven't been overbuilding the Navy. I may wax eloquent about it and love my jolly tars, but one should always keep in mind that it is a war on land, after all. The USN can be one very effective tool - but it can't win the war by itself.
* Still on point, I haven't been Brown Blocking at all in CW2, except for the Roads and, sometimes, the James. Bogue Inlet is a 'free' BrnBlk, so to speak, and I haven't even bothered with that. I just recently learned that BluBlk is capped at 40% without BrnBlk or port/fort captures. I have come around to building a powerful river fleet.
* Harpers: I have never had a hard time taking and keeping HF vs Athena, on either side. Occasionally, she will muscle up & retake, but briefly - I can usually regroup and retake quickly. So, I don't see HF as that much of an issue vs the AI (WARNING - some good, but limited experience on Colonel level). Humans, a 'nother ball game. Humans see and appreciate the importance of HF and the see-saw can go on for eighteen game months or more.
Alex: I'm OK to say this, it's within bounds; from my ongoing game with havi (now coming on EP time), what I have done is establish The Cordon around Alex, viz., (HF) - Leesburg, Manassas, Falmouth. Kinda tough to invade MD with that in place. havi got Stuart & went a little bit too nutty with him, scooted 'round and took Frederick for a Turn, but then got a warm reception. I almost trapped Stuart in the Greater Gettysburg area - I feel safe in saying havi had a 'whew!' moment when he got him back to the Valley (with one Cav Bde - left some cousins behind).
It takes time for the Union to establish the Cordon. What I did with havi is just keep threats alive, execute as needed, retreat when I had to. Just keep at it, keep at it. The Union can keep pumping Bdes in every Turn from New England, NY, PA.
Now for some serious tactics. Look at the board. I did this in a PbeM against P. SW Cleburne and surprised him (which surprised me) - Alex to F-burg is one (1) Turn. Yes. You can go from Alex to Fredericksburg in one move. When I first did that, Pat was "What?" & frankly admitted I had stolen a march on him. The game rewards & detracts over Manassas, but here is something the devs have never addressed - what if the Union declines Manassas and takes F-burg? No reward, no headlines - there should be, F-burg is more important.
So, what ya do to establish the Cordon is (a) gather & assign an HF Exp Force - most likely, Frederick. If the opponent takes Frederick, make it absolutely clear that that is the last stop on the trolley and growl in Baltimore and secure Harrisburg, etc., but have a dedicated force for HF; (b) take Leesburg - it's a check on HF and the river crossing messes up counters from HF - coordinate this with any moves in (non-RR) Montgomery county; Leesburg is Move One; (c) have enough strength to threaten the F-burg Express, at all times, at the very least, Falmouth. Seize Falmouth every time the CSA gets lazy. When a response is elicited, retreat back to Alex. Repeat - keep at it - "the threat is mightier than the pin."
Eventually, numbers start to tell, Hooker appears, I like Hooker/Burnside in an early Corps - just keep at it, make him pull guard duty 24/7 and put the CSA on the defensive. With some ingenuity and a bit of luck, NoVa should be yours after awhile, from HF to Falmouth, including Manassas.
Now, Stage Two: easy to describe, harder to do: I like to secure Fredericksburg - Charlottesville. Once I do, it's
Stage Three: take Interstate 64 from C-ville to Richmond - no rivers athwart this approach. Coordinate with an approach from the Yorktown peninsula (and from the beginning, be active on the peninsula as much as you can; again, keep that threat in play).
This takes lots & lotsa time and organization and some naval mix, etc. Charges of the North 'turtling' are starting to seem quite unfair. The North takes time and planning.
The idea is not to take the same ground twice.