I have never played them, but I've killed zillions of them, to me there just decent heavy infantry, because they take time to crack, but they have never posed a nasty threat, my Sarissa inf and Thoratiki flank troops hold them until it's cav and Nellie time.

The AI relies on then to much IMO as alot die on pike tips and having no spears means they don't like it up em when heavy cav repeatedly charge.
For super inf (although they cost more, if that bothers you) I prefer Elite spear troops, because their more versatile.

When you kill hundreds of men and only loose five, what type of troops are you killing, and in what type of situation, ie bridge, straight fight, rear attack etc, and what settings, medium battle with fatigue on?