The relevance of forges!?

[Zechnophobe]

Engineering increases the movement of all your troops by 50% in your borders.. I think that's a pretty good reason to get it first.

That said, I'm not a zealot in either direction. Ironworking sometimes makes sense. Sometimes engineering. If you are going a militant route, and melee units makes sense, than iron working is the way to go. Or at least Smelting to see if Iron is an option.

Heck, Engineering is basically an entire different tree. If the earlier techs (Masonry, construction) aren't relevant to your current game, then leaving out Engineering for a while isn't that ridiculous.

 

[Monkeyfinger]

I couldn't ever imaging going without construction, chain irrigating is just that important and bridges are nice too.

 

[Zechnophobe]

Chain irrigating can be cool, but a fair number of civs don't rely on it. Kuriotates and Lanun for example. Some terrain doesn't require it either(Heavy grass with food resources here and there).

Anyhow, one last point is that Engineering requires Mathematics and Construction, whereas Iron Working just requires smelting. If you got Bronze early due to a NEED for cutting down trees or military, the total tech cost from that point is significantly cheaper. But I think no one is arguing that per se.