Help with archers and artillery.

[Slug For A Butt]

I find artillery very inaccurate in M2TW, I have much better results when I pop the generals unit with LB's rather than artillery. Unlike in RTW where you could wipe out half an army AND the Generals with Artillery, I find 3 units of AS much more valuable than 3 artillery.
The only half decent way to use artillery that I've found is to send a couple of crappy units to stand well in front of my battle line to hold the enemy for a little time while my catapults kill both them and my crappy units. But then that's maybe 5 units in total that could have been quality units that will make a real difference.
I'm just wanting someone to tell me how to use artillery to justify their position in my army compared to other proven killers.

EDIT: Obviously they are justified if it is an army that is out to capture cities quickly.