crusades for profit

i was playing as milan on h/h, as we know venice will always attack you. so they did and subsquently they were excomunicated. i had already allied myself with the papal states and had given them some money to get them to love me. then i asked the pope to call a crusade on venice, he did. at this point i hired all the mercenaries i could, and moved my army in to take venice, i did, and now i have a super general, all of my troops have alot of excperience, the pope still loves me, and i have plenty of reasonbly good/cheap merc. troops.
so to some it up when ever you can call a crusade against a city that you already want to take, the pope will love, give you money, and you get super troops.
also always join/win crusades no matter, unless it jeoprodizes your whole faction

I have a general on my Egypt campaign that's been in 5 Jihads.

5 Jihads? how old is that guy..and what are his stats?
maybe:
Uber Jihadist: +5 Dread +5 Command + 5 UBER HOWAMISTILLALIVEAFTERFIVEJIHADS points

After I learned game mechanics, game is not much challenge for me any more.
Especially Crusade ruined my game, as it was too unrealistic/easy/profitable.

I tried Crusade 3 times as Hungary/Sicily. Well, Jerusalem was piece of cake, if only I can get there. With such cheap but strong Crusade units, how I can lose battle?

Along the way to oriental, I take rebel cities, then Antioque, Jerusalem, Gaza, whatever orient in just several turns. (o, I played Hard/Hard) Due to Crusade, I suddenly became most powerful/rich country in the world.

At that point, I tend to quit game as I feel sick at AI's stupidity.
I didn't use Crusade toward excommunicated European powers even though I knew I can do it with easy. I believe it's kind of bug, what you think?:dizzy2:

^^

You know there are non catholic nations, or better yet play as a nation of islam blockade the papals ports from the start and never ask for a ceasefire from him.