Corinthian helmuts weren't used any longer because you could barely hear anything while wearing them, let alone any battlefield orders. If I recall correctly from my last game the generals in EB are still wearing them (even sillier), but I expect that will be corrected in the upcoming versions...

In my own uneducated opinion, I agree with the original poster. I'd feel a lot more comfortable charging into a forest of spear points using an argive shield and some decent (metalic) armour, then lighter equipment with a slightly longer spear (wich is still about 8 feet shorter then the enemy's)

I'd guess that Greek commanders of the time used lighter hoplites to pull of some tactical manouvering as they'd have no chance against a pike phalanx head on, while using their heavier hoplites to engage head on and tie them up.