my problem with emplacements always has been and always will be, that its just no skill based at any level. you place an immovable object somewhere and the AI will do the rest. no micro no nothing
That's actually completely wrong in the case of the mortar pit. You constantly have to guard it, you have to place it in the right spot, you have to know if you can put one down or not, etc.
Most mortar pits in automatch 2v2 end up a bad investment because people put them down without being able to defend them. Then they have to retreat to base once and the mortar pit dies instantly because all it takes is one flame grenade and a raketenwerfer to kill it fast now that brace has been nerfed. I would argue that normal mortars are much easier and safer to use than mortar pits. So yes mortar pits do take skill to use effectively.