It does, though, since the obstacles were nothing more than a new stun in effect, since you always had the chance to counter out. In DoA3, there was a huge risk with your back to the wall. In DoA4, it was no more a risk than getting hit by any other attack.
I mean, I get what you're saying about stage size (nothing like the bridge, for example), but getting knocked into a wall, tree, etc, didn't really net you anything but more guessing. In that way, while the stages had the potential to mean something, they really didn't for that reason.
