Quote Originally Posted by Thaatu
I don't think it's that unrealistic. If you take a highly developed Pella, which is conquered by Epirus for a few turns, then taken back by Macs. If the barracks are destroyed, it'll take more than 7 ½ years to be able to recruit Silver Shields again. What could have realisticly happened during those few seasons that wiped out the memory of Argyraspidai? Personally, I destroy the previous barracks after a few years of occupation, unless I completely sack the place.
The highly developed Pella won't be as highly developed anymore after months or years of occupation where the new rulers are recreating a MIC in their own image, or even just laying waste to the infrastructure of the previous owners. While I am not sure what the differences are between Epeiros and Makedonia's MIC models in particular, I am sure that there were good reasons for not using the same.

You are talking about elites being available immediately upon recapture, elites who used superior equipment and were training a long time to be such elites. Why would their intermediate masters allow them to train in the enemy's fashion while under their rule? 7,5 years may or may not be a more precise time scale for rebuilding what was destroyed or damaged or killed during the occupation than no time at all. Still, it means a representation of the investment needed to rebuild to the previous level, considering getting men of eligible age to be soldiers, training them for years, getting blacksmiths trained (or imported) and the infrastructure those need, etc.