Thus far....

[Shad]

Hmm, sounds exactly like what Treadasaurusrex wrote.

The difference is subtle but important, especially to a new player.

If you read Tread's version exactly as written, it states by implication that a leader without a combat modifier can only active units in its own hex.

The veteran player will read it and understand that Tread is referring to activations and then the ability to combine fire, but words as written it just says activation. Leaders with a 1 combat mod can activate exactly as many hexes as leaders with 0, or 2, or 500.