The new Storypath system leans more towards narrative than tactical conflict. That said, I personally like miniatures as collectibles, and would have liked dice too!
True, but Trinity Battleground was a VERY small scale skirmish rules set, which I think actually hurt it when competing with the Big Boys of its era. Warhammer, 40K, Warzone, all were very popular at that point and called for comparatively huge armies. Even a narrative-heavy RPG combat system can benefit from figures, as generations of D&D players have shown.
Still, hopefully the relaunch goes well and maybe we'll see a future KS produce (or reproduce - Hades only knows who has the original molds and masters) minis, even if we never see an actual minis game.