I suppose that similar to how ETW is "an 18th century flavor", HOI3 is a "WWII era flavor" game. It is funny to me that I have the USA in 1937 drifting quickly towards the Axis. Apparently Lindbergh has more influence than I thought.
Poland just joined the Allies.
Japan is falling apart.
I haven't even started annexing anything (other than reoccupying the Rhineland) and I already have all categories of production and resources at a positive growth.
I think it gives you a starting point (like ETW does in 1700) and just runs away from reality at the start. Still, its fun to learn how it works and it will get patched and modded.