Because DnD did start as a wargame, right? Before the red box came the 50 figure armies. I think there used to be a little history written by Gygax about how they started.

Anyway, I don't mind the focus on combat. I like that roll-playing and role-playing are separated. My favorite groups had no issue with playing their dumb fighter as a dumb fighter, and the smooth talking noble as a smooth talker. I like the approach others have taken, like the social combat in exalted, or powered-by-the-apocalypse system, but it has led to a few players in my groups just wanting to roll the dice every time and not talk at all.