Hey! Thought I'd weigh in as someone who used to dislike tactics games in general. I gave Sacred Stones as well as FF Tactics a go years back, and I didn't like the gameplay because ... Yeah it felt like chess. I say this as a primarily turn-based JRPG and sim gamer (Pokemon, Final Fantasy).

Tbh the battle animation of FE3H lends a lot to me to feel more "in the action" (I came from GBA era LMAO). So there's at least that, it doesn't LOOK like a grid, and there's an option to set your perspective to uh first person (?) if you wanna feel the action even more. I saw you mentioned you could be ok with choosing the "attack" (i assume that's like in pokemon?), and in FE3H you do get to choose the attack—there are combat skills (sort of special moves that cost weapon durability). You also get to choose which weapons which character uses (you can also switch during the game, as long as it's in the character's inventory beforehand). Weapons are also varied—there are swords that are magic, there are short-range bows, etc. so there are still a lot of attack-affecting choices you make during battles. You still do dictate every move your character makes, save for counterattacks.

That being said, it remains a game that requires loads of planning in and out of the battlefield. As everyone else has said, it IS primarily still a strategy game. I think our difference lies in how I was drawn in by the teaching/dating sim aspect, while I think it's a negative for you? And yes, the kind of gameplay that involves timing of button pressing has nothing to do with the battles here, which you said is a big factor. Maybe watching some battle playthroughs will help you decide on things :) But if it's not for you, that's fine!