Unfortunately, if you don't like the brawling combat, I don't think that this game is for you. I really doubt that they are going to overhaul something that is so integral to the design.
I know that getting killed by latency is harsh, but it has been that way in every FPS ever. It just feels worse when they show you the pre-animated cutscene of you getting curb stomped.
I keep hearing people describe the combat described as rock-paper-scissors, but after putting some time into the game, it doesn't really feel that way. I mean, when you are approaching a fight (from the front), grapple is too slow to be an option. Once you are stuck in a strike combo, your only option is to dodge out of it. In every situation, there's only two viable options.