Having technological progress without aggression/combat is like baking an apple pie without apples. Sure, it still tastes good and is still a pie, but why leave out the apples for no reason?
I don't care about combat that much at all (and indeed, I do NOT want to play a game focused around it, that is why I chose Eco). But there really should be at least a bare minimum of it in the game. Clearly I'm in the minority here but the game will feel unfinished until combat is implemented
It will feel unfinished for YOU - and in this case probably forever. ;)