The problem with them has more to do with the fact that if the pikemen arn't actually attacking an individual model, it can freely walk straight through the pikes as if they arn't their. Without the Pike Fix, if more than a couple of enemy models do that the entire unit drops it's pikes and pulls out it's swords. Most pikemen would be beaten by Armoured Sarges in melee without their pikes, so it kills the pikemen badly.

Some people seem to be able to get them to work without the Pike fix in vanillia, but in general they simply won't attack infantry with their pikes for most people in vanillia.