The reason full UVMapping is not an option is our intended release date is only a few months away. We currently have no staff members capable of texturing, or even tilemapping for that matter. We have about 10 models that need to be tilemapped and there's little chance we will get them all done now before the release date.
I don't intend on delaying the date so we are focussing on 4 major models (Diablo, Bastion, Sol Gate and a secret EA model) which we can't do without. The remaining models are the Shivan and Vasudan cruisers shown a few months ago, and the GTI Arcas and the Arcadia extensions (which aren't finalised meshes right now anyway)
Everything else is ready or won't be included until the 2nd half of the campaign is ready (Gigas, Icanus etc)
The remaining models will have to be patched in when they are ready if they aren't done in time. I don't plan on keeping those HTL models lying around till the 2nd release so we'll do a content patch when it's needed.
If anyone has any experience with tilemapping and would like to help feel free to drop us a message