I do not believe WCSO to be an add-on. Nor it is, IMHO, WC6.
It is an experiment to evaluate the feasibility of releasing a game fully online.
That is not my opinion, it is indeed a fact.
Even then, I do not think it is a lesser game in the series. But let's hypothsize (sp?) a little: if Origin was to release a new "core" WC, wouldn't they consider it to be WC6?
Regarding the "punch": Yes, I do believe that, in a series of story-focused games, how much a single game advances the universe is pretty important. In the Quake series, you have a new game when you have a new engine, and that's pretty much it. But WC is NOT quake... And WCSO's story is marginally advancing the universe at large. It's good, granted, but doesn't make much difference. It's almost a replaying of the first Bug fight, minus the character development. That being said, it surely does wonders with the plot, considering the medium and the lack of storytelling aids like movies etc.
Regarding it being in the sidelines: Even though we're in the thick of the action, it's is in fact a Special Operation, secret and all. Therefore othr people are in the spotlight, ehehehe. Like the Midway, for instance.
I didn't mean to rekindle this old debate. It is just my opinion. Our collective opinions, irregardless of how varied make absolutely no difference... The classification and taxionomics of a game are of no consequence to anyone else in the planet. At all. Indeed.
Isn't it?