No you are quite right about that storyteller. IMO one of the best balancing acts in the TW series was the starting positions in STW. For example choosing factions was based not just on wealth but also access to iron reserves and troop bonuses. You could go for the poor Mori with abundant access to iron deposists or the rich Hojo who had to fight for strategic deposits of Iron or field non-elite armies.

Conquering provinces like Shinano(?) with iron reserves, cav bonuses and terrain that would allow the AI to hold high ground and crush you at ease was very hard. Achieving it felt like youd really won something.

Sorry, digression. The other advantage this had was not just access to some elite troops, but as all the factions were the same, getting an edge with better armour often made a real difference to your armies.