@eggsaladsandwich:
However, Anzac and UK would have given US forces “safe harbor” if we had decided to retreat from an area we suspected the Japanese may hit at any time with overwhelming forces, would they not have?
The US didn’t exactly expect Japan to stomp Pearl, so why would they abandon the Philippines before they were at war? As the US, you’re sort of supposed to expect NOT to go to war. Unfortunately, by setting the game in 1940, the element of surprise is shot (of course the US is going to war), so the idea of forcing the allied players to stick to their own territories is the best you can do. It puts the allies at a disadvantage, which is what they’re supposed to have. Why would they be consolidating their forces together if they didn’t expect Japan to attack? The neutral rule is the only way to provide the japanese with an attack against the allies that doesn’t have a coordinated defense. As it is supposed to be.
As with all A&A games, the war as the allies is supposed to be HARD, depending on economy and smart purchases to get them better positioned. The axis started out fast and geared for it and it was always an uphill battle for the allies to push them back because it simply wasn’t anticipated, expected, or desired (to go to war).