Unless you add "For me" to the first sentence, I'm not sure why it is a fact. I completed Solasta a couple times and absolutely enjoyed the increased control from reaction pop-ups. I have no trouble admitting that not everyone likes it done that way, and I have no objections to keeping some reactions automatic.
I'd like to see an example of reaction Counterspell that is usable without automation (it can waste the spell on something trivial) or an activated ability (how can you counter something on your turn when you don't know if it's going to happen).
Of course you can simply not implement any reactions that can't easily be done as an activated ability. I simply do not understand why a pop-up is such a big deal in a turn-based game.
Well, it is a fact that if you get a pop-up window every time your Wizard is hit or when your Paladin hits an enemy, combat does not flow as well as without those extra interruptions. Suddenly you have to make decisions during enemy turns as well instead of just letting their turn run it's course. I can completely accept that some players enjoy slow micromanagement of little details. But I understand Larians take on this and I tend to agree with them for once.
Counterspell won't work without the prompts as it is in 5e. But it could be very well changed into an action spell that would give a spell failure chance, or initiate some spell DC contest or just prevent casting of lvl 1-2 spells for a short duration. Or just be axed completely.
Pop-ups will be especially challenging for multiplayer where everyone needs to understand what the hold-up is about and what's happening. Solasta doesn't have this to worry about.
