Skill is often divided into 3 components: macro-management; micro-management; and mechanics.

Macro refers to decisions regarding economy. It includes finances, build order, counters, etc. Macro is mostly strategic.

Micro refers to decisions regarding battle. It includes troop positioning, focus fire, kiting, etc. Micro is mostly tactical.

Mechanics refers to execution. I.e. do your fingers have the dexterity and APM to accomplish your goals effectively? If not, practice makes perfect.

Except you can only execute your plan until you have contact with your opponent, and then it's improvisation. The rest of the game is only 'easy' if you've executed your opening far better than your opponent, or you have a rock-paper-scissors situation where your build dominates theirs. Both situations are not very common at the pro level.

More often than not, yes even though there's some counter-examples with some players playing against the meta with great succès.

It's possible you're referring to the tradeoff between exploration vs exploitation.