I agree with Orda. HA should stay the size they are. Factions that have themusually didn't have a problem recruiting them. They are already smaller than regular archers and much more expensive, which pretty much balance out things. HA weren't like European heavy cavalry, and armies who did use them, tended to use them in much larger numbers than Europeans used heavy cavalry. They could use a bit of tweaking though, to reduce the micromanagement. Somehow RTW:BI was much more friendly in this regard, IMHO.

Ok, will wait and see, but I think reducing the size of HA is a bad idea, both from historical and gameplay point of view. It's not enough to say "eastern factions will get some new units to counter improved westerners". HA should be effective as they were...