Nightmare, I am glad you have grown to like KH. You are, of course, completely right about them being one of the many "Hellenic" factions, but I think that the differences there are do make them worth a go. And because they don't have some of the uber units others do (Spatran Hoplites aside) they can be more of a challenge than most.

Firstly; Ekdromoi Hoplitai (Greek Light Hoplites), Iphikratous Hoplitai (Greek Hoplite Phalanx), Thorakitai Hoplitai (Greek Heavy Hoplite Phalanx), Epilektoi Hoplitai (Hellenic Distinguished Hoplites), Hippeis Xytophoroi (Greek Noble Cavalry) and Somatophylakes Strategou (Greek Generals) are faction unique. After the "March of Time" reform Koinon Hellenon Phalangitai (Greek Phalanx) (that is Sarissa armed Makedonian style phalanxes) is also faction unique. In addition the following are available to only one or two other factions: Spartiatai Hoplitai (Spartan Hoplites) - Carthage, because of the scripted Xanthippus event I guess; Hippeis (Greek Medium Cavalry) - Epeiros and Rome. Furthermore Somatophylakes Strategou (Greek Generals), along with their Spartan colleagues, are generals that walk! Now thats different!

Secondly, swords: Peltastai (Hellenic Heavy Skirmishers), Iphikratous Hoplitai (Greek Hoplite Phalanx), Thorakitai Hoplitai (Greek Heavy Hoplite Phalanx) and Koinon Hellenon Phalangitai (Greek Phalanx) all have swords as secondary weapons.

Thirdly; if Iphikratous Hoplitai (Greek Hoplite Phalanx), is as good as you can recruit then you have at most a Level 3 Native MIC. At level 4 you will get Thorakitai Hoplitai (Greek Heavy Hoplite Phalanx), Epilektoi Hoplitai (Hellenic Distinguished Hoplites), good old Thorakitai (Hellenic Heavy Spearmen) and, after the "March of Time", Koinon Hellenon Phalangitai (Greek Phalanx). Level 5 (in Sparta) will give you Spartiatai Hoplitai (Spartan Hoplites) and not just Spartan FMs.

Hope this helps.