How effective was the Pilum?

[Julius Augustus]

Hi guys. This question has been bugging me for a while now. How effective was the Pilum? I have often wondered if it is underpowered in EB. Elite Roman units like the Praetorians have only 5 missile attack, while elites from other factions have missile attack of 8 or so. This seems a bit odd to me for several reasons.

First of all, the natural qualities of the Pilum. The Pilum is designed with a long metal shaft and point at the end. This gives it incredible penetrating power, having been able to punch through curiasses in tests.

The ability to stick into shields. In reality, Pila were able to stick in shields and not come out. This would have forced the bearer of the shield to fight without his primary source of protection. As this cannot be implemented due to engine restriction, it seems to reasonable to make up for that with an increased attack stat.

Disorganization. All javelins cause disorganization in a line when they hit, but Pila caused much more than a normal javelin. By sticking into shields of charging enemies, they caused those enemies to trip, pause to try yank out the Pilum, or pause to drop their shields, and this caused mass mayhem. Entire charges have been reported to have fallen apart after Pila volleys. Again, this cannot be replicated and calls for an increased attack stat.

Weight. Pila are heavy, as much as 10 pounds with an added lead weight. This, combined with the metal tip, explains the AP attribute. However, a heavy javelin is also more effecive than a light javelin against and unarmored foe, which is not displayed in EB with the Pilum.

Training. Legionaries were constantly trained, and javelin throwing was part of that training. They would not have been any less accurate than anybody else, as I have heard it said that Legionaries were innacurate.

All these factors combine to show, at least in my opinion, that Pila are grossly underpowered. I'd say that the average legionary should get a missile attack of 6, and that elite units should get 7 or 8 missile attack. I know that this makes them brutally powerful against armored units, but weren't they historically really strong? Right now Pila are crap against all but the most heavily armored units, in comparison with other javs.

What do you guys think? Are Pila underpowered?

Edit-Watchman, this is aimed at you, as you came up with the unit stats, unless I'm mistaken.