Well, I recently fought a multiplayer LAN engagement myself attacking, against two defenders on a hill top. Spliting my forces, fighting uphill, outnumbered, I still managed to outmanevor their flanks and won in a matter of 6 or 7 minutes, all while chatting on the phone.

Now, the guys defender weren't experts, but they were competent, and the natural advantages of numbers and ground should have compensated. Now, an expert would probably thrash me, but I think it's fair to say that I don't really need the pause in multiplayer. There are certainly many battles where I don't use it. However, I grow tired of the same old block-grouped predictable learned-by-rote strategies that come naturally from time limited command capabilities. I use the pause button in order to execute more intricate actions, in order to most effectively use my skirmishers and cavalry, and as a means of practicing new manouvers that I plan on someday being able to execute without the pause.