Modder's debate - Moorish Starting position - the most ideal one for modders?

Real-life situation in Muslim Spain and North Africa around 1080:
https://img801.imageshack.us/img801/4428/mapof1080.jpg

As you can see, the Almoravids did not even conquer Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) until 1086. The original Medieval Total War starts around 1087, so it's realistic to make Al-Andalus part of the Moorish starting provinces. But Medieval 2 Total War starts in 1080. Realistically, the Andalusian taifas should be either rebel provinces or a faction on their own.
The Almoravids never ruled over Tunisia or Libya. So Medieval Total War did it wrong.


Meanwhile, in Medieval Total War:
http://puu.sh/41hZj.jpg
(Almohad starting position, 1087 - btw, Almoravids would be most correct. Also, the Almoravid Caliphate never included Tunisia and Libya. As for Algeria, it was limited to only Western Algeria.)

Medieval Total War, XL Mod
https://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8742/earlyxl7oj.jpg
(Almoravid starting position, 1087 - in real life, Western Algeria was part of the Almoravid Caliphate)

Medieval 2 Total War:
http://totalwar.honga.net/images/med.../map_moors.jpg
(Moorish starting position 1080 - in real life, Southern Iberia did not become part of the Almoravid Caliphate until 1086)

So what is the solution?
Those Southern Iberian cities are rich.
But let's think game-wise.
Rebels don't build or recruit. What could prevent Castile or Portugal from conquering them sooner than the Almoravids?
Nothing. There goes the Reconquista - already ready 300 years before in real life.
There goes also the balance - the Moors limited to Morocco and Algeria only, rather weak. But in real life, Moors were strong.

So.... any way to find the balance between realism and video game balance/playability?
Any way to make find a balanced way, without too much immersion breaking?

I'd have to say other, I can't elaborate much now, but as soon as I get back, I will explain.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ivanthefox

I'd have to say other, I can't elaborate much now, but as soon as I get back, I will explain.

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I'd say other because, I like things to be as historically accurate as can be allowed, but I also like things to be a little bit gamey so I am in between gamey and history. So maybe they can start out with all the territories of history, but also some of a more gamey type to make things balanced.