Interesting how I could have taken that quote wrong, eh? Seeing as how you basically said it was a "major" combat type then said right after it wasn't one of the "main" combat types. Whatever. I'll let it go. Moving on...
It indeed was one of the major combat types. One of the workhorses of the IJAAF. It was used as a day fighter/bomber interceptor, night fighter, strike aircraft. It was operated in South East Asia, Dutch East Indies, New Guinea and China etc. It was for example operated by ten Sentais in the course of the war. Looking at the Japanese fighters we don't have in Aces High, only Ki-43 had a bigger (a lot bigger indeed) production run. Ki-45 was widely used combat type no matter of how it performed or weather you like it or not.
It does drive home the fact that the Ki was underpowered, though, having even less wing area. Its initial climb rate is listed as 2100 fpm in a couple of places. That's a bit lower than the 110C.
I don't quite understand what the wing area has to do with it but if you think Ki-45 is underpowered then 110C has to be aswell considering that Ki-45 has better powerloading than 110C. In wingloading these two aircraft are very closely matched. I wouldn't look too closely on initial climb rate figures given on various websites.
Has nothing to do with math.
Well, when you manage to work up a 400hp difference between the Ki-45 and 110C it is starting to be a bit amusing.

The point that the 110C is similar to the Ki-45 was contested/corrected immediately, and your "putting into context" is merely "debating" that facts to say you think they are similar. But you say you're not debating, only "putting into context" -- which is really the same thing: defending your opinion. That's fine. It's allowed. This is a civil discussion and you are entitled to your opinions.
Fair enough. So far I've proved that the performance figures of these two types are rather close and that theres nothing that makes Ki-45 somehow mystically far worse than 110C.
Of the subs used in Special Events, 110C is actually a fairly good sub for the Ki-45. Of course I hate the need to use subs in general and wish Ki-45 would get added at some point. As one of the work horses of the IJAAF it definately deserves its place in the sim.