I think it's pretty clear at this point that connections should be a top priority for the next patch. We really need clarification on how they are SUPPOSED to work. There's just a lot of questions and confusion in general.
"Trade network" is about slotting resources and moving them. Is this a completely separate system from "connections" that send food to cities? Or no? There's heavy overlap at minimum, because fishing quays seem to be involved in both. But overall it's just confusing having two semi-related systems with little details on how they function.
What's going on with connections that are working in antiquity but then break for exploration? Or sometimes vice versa...a broken one will magically fix itself.
Do bridges matter? I swear I've formed valid connections without bridges many times. But a lot of people seem to be saying they do matter? This would explain the broken connections upon a new age, since each age has new bridges. But again, I am quite confident that I've formed many connections over navigable rivers without any bridge at all.
What about cliffs? Do these factor into range calculations for merchants? If not, why do merchants frequently say "no valid connections" when another settlement is very close by? This would somewhat make sense, but is not mentioned anywhere.
On the subject of merchants. Why is it that sometimes if I want to connect A to B, it won't allow it. But then I move the merchant to B and all of a sudden A is a valid settlement to connect? What?
The whole thing is just really confusing. I am usually able to connect ~95% of the things I want to. But man that 5% sure is extremely annoying