gameplay elements that introduce substantial amounts of randomness into a strategy game more often than not mess it up.
That's true, but again it all depends on the level of randomness, and the amount of control a player has at compensating for it. Why do we roll to hit, or have damage spreads? Why bother with random maps, or missions? Why not play chess instead?
A little bit of "predictable randomness" is challenging, and makes us work harder at coping with unfavourable results, or exploiting them to our advantage.
Like I said: if a player wants to nullify the risk of a weapon jamming, he can carry a backup, or use more than one trooper in a formation, or probably some other tactic I have not even thought of
Just food for thought....
nemchenk