yeah Pitcavage was spot on with that. While the map is indeed accurate, that version of the map is not a thing of beauty. The 2nd edition (Motoyama 2) map was much MUCH better. Of course that is where I think Pitcavage goes off the rails, sure there probably a few that hate the map panels. My father did, but seriously man. This is not a game for kids, you have to have mental flexibility and some functioning grey matter to play the damn game. If aligning a few panels is too much trouble.. you've got bigger problems and complains that just that. Even the biggest and baddist of CH products, 30 plus panels.. not hard and if you are assembling those, it isn't for some pissant 6 turn scenario, it is for a monster and you'll be playing it for weeks, months even so what is the hour it takes to get them aligned.
on that very timely note, I just happen to have an extra copy of the 2nd edition map. 4 panels, it isn't rocket science to put them together and it does look so much better than the 1st version you got. It you want it drop me a PM with your address and I'll fire it off to you.