Technologies arent that important anymore

In empire fast research meant you had enourmous military advantages over your enemies. The three bayonet technologies, fire by rank, artillery technologies, etc. Now in Napoleon technologies arent that important or interesting anymore. Most are about lower upkeep costs instead of military improvements. I just dont enjoy research as much as in empire or shogun. Do you agree?

nope,

it might be less important than in empire (or shogun). but some of them still give some good help, depending on nation. (I.e. austrian who need poverty control laws, or the british who need some lower naval upkeep). there is also actually a military improvement such as rocket and stuff as well.

I agree with ECO. The tech in NTW is more designed to aid your economy and make troops types come available; while this can be very important for some factions, the importance is not the same as in ETW. For instance, In ETW having a plug bayonet in melee made such a difference as opposed to when there was no bayonet.