Go is significantly more strategic and it is possible to do well at the amateur level with middling tactical skills but a good strategic sense (the best, of course, are excellent at both). One of the most important lessons that I have the hardest time getting through to my students with is you must ask the question every time you put a stone down "what does this gain me? Is it more important for me to play here, or to play somewhere else?".
You can crush someone with good tactical play who wastes moves locally in this fashion. The difference one stone can make is astounding.
where are you getting the idea chess isn't incredibly strategic, or that not every move in chess counts and has to be considered carefully for what it gains?
amateur chess players are mostly terrible at tactics, by the way. non-masters hang a piece every game, pretty much. (but usually their opponent doesn't notice)
You can crush someone with good tactical play who wastes moves locally in this fashion. The difference one stone can make is astounding.