Again, this is sounds suspiciously like blather. "Reduced certain (potential) technical issues? The "(potential)" bit is the most glaring indication that this is marketing talk -- never admit to problems! Plus, completely ignore the fact that it creates new technical issues. Testing patches is also fully possible outside of Steam.
As the tech support person at Paradox, I can tell you that this is absolutely true. That part of my job would be a lot easier if everyone used Steam. Patch and install issues, a ton of other problems and users errors would never occur. Some new problems, yes, but nowhere near the same amount.
The most important thing is what Susana said last though. If it is easier to see that the game will require Steam, then you can make an educated choice.