I haven't looked into the trade income in any great detail, but it is significantly less as far as I can tell. It seems balanced in that you're always quite stretched. Battles are also very well balanced. I've take some stupid losses in some battles because I've overestimated the power of Monks and Nodachi. In STW/MI they would cut through YS like anything, in this mod they're not as effective, especially in the case of No Dachi which are best used to attack from the flank. YS and especially Naginta are better for engaging the enemy from the front (note I said "engaging from the front" and not "frontal assaults", which are sheer folly). Training/building costs are, I think, as they were in the original STW, which is a very good thing indeed.