Sorry for monopolizing this thread and the multiple posts but something occurred to me.
What is this deal with peasants anyway? I mean, they are ineffective in combat, but are cheap and good at increasing loyalty because of their numbers; nobody would buy them except to garrison provinces and increase loyalty. It doesn't make sense to me how daring rebels would tremble before peasants and therefore not rebel!! Why not get rid of peasants all together, forcing rather more expensive garrisons (eg 100 archers at 350 a time) or replace them with urban militia?
Just a thought - feel free to pull it apart