So ...

[Craterus]

Yes, this is R:TW as it should have been. That's something I can say without equivocating.

Bugs? Note the lack of "OhNOOOO Horrible (whatever) bug" threads.

Issues? Some. History fans are pleased by "Graal Knights" and so forth, but nothing nearly so ludicrous as Egyptian chariots in the 3rd Century B.C.

To me, the biggest change for the better is that infantry, particularly spear-armed infantry, are no longer helpless before the rush of cavalry. It's a major concession to realism.

Challenge? Anybody who thinks this game lacks challege needs to play the Western Roman Empire.

Backed up by a company that doesn't call its customers whiners? I don't care what they call us as long as they concede our points and act upon them.

This expansion game fixes, improves, or at least takes a stab at every complaint about R:TW that can be addressed without fully rewriting game: Unit speed, jumping horses, broken HA, diplomacy (although the changes are minor and might not be an improvement), balance, predictability, suicidal generals, AI that seemed to lack an instinct for self-preservation, etc., etc.

Along with what I saw earlier, that has persuaded me.

BRING ON THE FRANKS!!!