I actually find the CMAA rout too easily sometimes. Another factor is which faction you're using. The clansmen are a lot of fun if they get a chance to close, and in some cases with numbers to spare they were even taking down heavily armored foes and giving chase to cav units in my last campaign.

The Chiv foot knights can be awesome, but I see them rarely enough that I don't plan on using them.

I concur with the Halbs often being too slow to be of much use, with them getting bogged down even on defense and taking too long to get to the action unless they're starting bridge battles.