Valid points, but many can be addressed IC. If you want the pool of candidates to be expanded for Seneschal, have a friendly Duke propose a CA. If you want some the new lands distributed, gather support for an edict calling for that.

Ignoramus has a good point that the replacable nature of avatars might be contributing to in game aggression compared to KotR.

I agree to a certain extent. We have more avatars in the field, the Order for example, and this allows us to expand more. While some people might be more cavalier with their avatars since there will be a replacement in the wings, I'm as careful with Hugues as I was with Otto and Matthias. More so when I'm shepherding other people's avatars. There is a mandated five turn break between avatars in the rules if one is killed.

But I also think that GH as Heinrich curtailed some expansion at the beginning of KotR to focus on development. I also tried to do the same in LotR. Tristan as King has exerted a more expansionistic influence. Granted, he isn't Seneschal, but he did start the war with the Germans. Like the approach or not, it's allowed within the rules.

In individual battles we are winning, however this has not stopped the AI from having several stacks larger and better equipped than our own. Personally, I have hesitated to face them in the open field. So I don't think it's as overmatched as everyone is claiming. If we keep up this pace, we will be checked at some point. Either by other factions dog piling or by excommunication.