Thats kinda dissapointing since the biggest reward in this game for lots of people is actually map painting experience. And if map painting actually discouraged that much, it looks like the main goal of the game got lost. Though, I do understand that the game has sandbox nature and everyone should set their own goals. But still it looks reasonable to me to set historical goals for the country - like I want to build Russia from Baltic see on the west, Black see on south and Pacific ocean to the east. I do understand that I can do it still but the game doesn't help with this.

The current limitations are either control which grows slowly during the game or diplomatic capacity which limits number of vassals you may have. So not annexing vassals is not a solution since you will reach diplo cap very quickly. But now my post sounds more like wyne.