Are bayonet techs critical in early game?

[Fisherking]

Critical not really for the infantry, but for developing your military infrastructure. Getting them early means you build your higher level barracks earlier and get to recruit units like grenadiers and heavy cavalry earlier.

Square is also only useful against cavalry in melee, but not against cavalry charges. Once you charge and immediately withdraw and recharge, the infantry is pretty much gone after a few repeats. They don't really shoot much in square formation. What I dislike about cavalry in ETW is that they tire ridiculously quickly in melee and are weak there (and weak in cahrges too). Also, they seem rather invulnerable to infantry melee attacks while moving now, which also is bad (I liked the M2TW system)

I would agree.

Building up your unit selection is more important and the square is not that useful.

If cavalry is a problem you expect, then bring along some cannon.

I am never in much of a rush to get the square but to build up my barracks.

Bayonets usually take two or three turns and the next level usually adds one turn. The square is also two or three turns but I leave it until after I build the second barracks.