Thematically, I think this all works really well.

Mechs aren’t necessarily war machines… they can do that, but they also serve as the industrial presence in the agricultural Bolshevik countryside. Even with the event cards, the threat of Mech violence is always there, but its usually most profitable to go about your business.

For not being the focus of the game, I think the combat is effective in making players jockey for board position. The hidden combat power cards make a difference, and its all tied to the Mech production, which has pros and cons for your economy. I’ve played games where I rush Mechs, sacrificing early economy for board access and mobility later on, and other games where I ignored Mechs almost completely, focusing on a compact econ in my corner of the board.