I bear much dislike for games you can't pre-measure in. That rewards a skill that should have nothing to do with tactics, army building, or painting. That's one of my main grouses with Warmahordes and earlier editions of Warhammer Fantasy.
Pre measuring is a part of the game and leaving it out will not make for an easier game if you're new to it. There are other ways to create balance in the force. While I absolutely agree on the troglodon I think it's too soon. I'm more for Scalenex' approach of taking small steps, first one should be a point decrease and then later on we can thinker some more with it.
So much this. Honestly, it felt like more of a burden for new players as veterans had their guess measuring down perfectly. Might as well have had premeasuring.
A real life cannon can shoot targets any where on your table, the next table or any other table in the room. Late medieval Sakers and Falcones could shoot 3000-5000 feet. A 4ft x 6ft table is only 433 scale feet along the longest diagonal. Pre-measuring is possible with real cannons. The Confederates did this at The Battle of Sabine Pass. The Union steamed gunboats into a pre-measured shooting zone covered by a four gun battery. It Was. Not. Pretty.