Traits and stars are indeed being handed out generously in vanilla 1.2

My Carthaginian generals were all-scars all-stars, and my current Seleucids are routinely getting 2 stars per victory (+ a couple of decorated item-carrying saviours and sugar on the top) or none at all.
I like the heroic saviours, though. I imagine that when the general gets up in the morning, he greets that particular ancillary with a casual "Mornin', saviour!"

I guess a Trivium Chocolate Chip Pack will fix this, if it hasn't already.