On Mars and Asteroids, the orbital period is different from Earth's, so it's harder to keep track of when your Unbirthday is.
And yes, it's very annoying that the chance of double damage is going to be the main special ability from now on. I've been using VF Rocket Troops against most SAM units. Units with no range should have stopped existing after the Industrial Age. "Close Quarters" is a crappy special ability when there are ranged unist available.
There are plenty of possible ideas for new special abilities that they don't have to keep tweaking them in ways that don't make thematic sense.
Do we really need 12k Mars Ore? A GB whose only purpose is to compensate you for something they're taking away is not much of a great building.