Infantry in BI

[Zorlag]

I've been playing BI first with Sassanids and now I'm trying to play with Franks. I've noticed that spearunits seem to be much better in BI. They don't rout so easily and are capable of tearing light and medium horse units to pieces in longer melee.

Now I'm faced with the dilemma: Why should I train axe or swordsmen? They are worse against horses and when fighting against other infantry they have only 2/3 of the spearunit size. Spears can do shield wall just the same as axe or sword and gain one extra experience level compared to other types due to hall bonus. Addionally spearunits carry throwing spears, which is quite devastating when throw by 120 soldiers (large unit size). On top of that both Axe and Sword Heerbann are more expensive to maintain... Am I missing something? I also noticed that Fransisca Heerbann have Warcry ability instead of shield wall which makes it harder to incorporate in frankish battleline.