I'm surprised no one mentioned the fact that you don't have to retrain your general units, as they automatically go back to full complement in a turn or two (nevermind, someone just did lol thats what I get for not reading thoroughly).

I keep my treasury under 50k at all times and I got minimal bad traits (compared to some people I've heard, sounds like their generals have every single bad trait in the game by being in a city for only 1 or 2 turns), the only one that is consistently popping up for me is "Wildly Extravagant". They usually have only 2 or 3 bad traits (and not the worst of those categories) and almost never more than 4. I have a general in every city. For promising field commanders I typically leave them in a settlement for a turn or 2 to pick up some positive traits, then send them off and they never see civilization again.

I think I'd rather take a general than a full heavy cav unit in my armies now, especially if I'm not Germany lol. The charges are so messed up in this game, I remember in RTW that if you charged with a longer line the guys on the extreme ends would actually turn after they pass the target and charge them in the back/flank. When I charge in this game, its really anyone's guess what'll happen next, I've seen weird things happen. Problem is I never have extra generals around.

Troop transport duty is a good idea.

If you want all your bad generals to die put them all in one army and send them up against Mongols or Timurids, at least you can enjoy the show of a suicidal charge, and hey, maybe you'll wipe a stack or so.