It just seems odd to set up shit that's not gonna go down till 2017, 2018. Like this shit could be a Phase 3 movie then. Add to that they could've gave that slot to another character (namely War Machine), to join in on Avengers 2.

And yeah, Cap 2 is the only film that really pushed the events of Avengers forward, while setting up Age of Ultron in spades.

Also, since Tony Stark's story is done, why don't they do War Machine movies now, with the occasionally cameo by Tony running a rebuilt S.H.I.E.L.D.