I don't know what to say about some of the points raised in this thread....
Maybe I'll just comment on the cantabrian circle issue. It seems obvious to me that this feature can leave that particular unit in a vulnerable state. This is not a command to be issued and forgotten about because light cav especially are going to get amongst them and do a lot of damage. I played the Chalons battle many times and in different ways. I used the Hun elite and HA with and without cantabrian circle. There is no way that those units are going to change formation and skirmish away out of trouble all by themselves so you must not 'forget' about them. Used wisely, I think cantabrian circle makes them more efficient

.....Orda