You do appear to be missing that the lack of vertical AI is a design choice, rather than a failing, yes. Remember that the game is specifically designed to accommodate numerous control and display schemes AND a largely non-FPS audience. So the AI isnt really supposed to offer such challenges. So for its niche it has little issue settling upon the shelf alongside its contemporaries.
"It's not poorly done AI because they made it perform poorly on purpose so they could sell an FPS to non-FPS players."
I have to give it to ya, that would explain how they bombed so badly with EDO. Though this just shifts the stupidity from the AI to the implementers of said AI. Win?