What's the point in elite units?

[Thoras]

I am sure that if you put 5 units of Hoplitai Haploi against pretty much any elite infantry they will win (at equal monetary recruitment cost). But battles don't work on the basis of such 1 vs. 5 mechanics. So even though 5 Hoplitai Haploi may be a match for a single unit of Elites, that does not mean that an army of 10 Hoplitai Haploi would beat an army of 5 Hoplitai Haploi and an Elite (both armies in conjunction with cavalry etc).

Well I just tried it :
1. 1 Unit Peltastai Makedonikoi(123) vs 5 Hoplitai Haploi(811) = The Haploi lost 626 men but won.
2. 2 Units of Peltastai Makedonikoi(245) vs 10 Hoplitai Haploi(1621)=The Pelastai WON and killed 1397 men the rest of the Haploi routed,with the general.The Peltastai Makedonikoi had 87 left.

I didn't flank or used guard mode in both battles, just head on combat and the Pelstai were surrounded.

So no I don't think they are useless ;)they can easly hold serveral enemy units while giving your other troops time to flank,or of course using them to flank.

most elites where just snoby richer dudes who wanted some recognition not superior troops with better equipment (aaltough they tended to be bigger and stronger due to better acess to resources except when bigger and stronger meant fat assholes who needed the better horse or else the regular horses couldn´t suport them)

Hmm I doubt it, at least not for the celts and germanic tribes and definitly not for medieval knights,but they are a bit out of the time frame.
The richer classes usually trained for war ,something that many poorer classes couldn't afford or do(time).