1. Patch 1.2 addresses this and VM has been rebalanced to accomodate for it. Units that should have shields have shields rather than extra armor.

2. Yes, from 1.2.

3. Yes from 1.2.

4. Cannot be fixed.

5. Cannot be fixed without making missiles not fire at all. Fixed for gunpowder though.

6. Polearms: more effective due to anims. Pikes: less likely to change weapons due to formation fixes and will change back more often rather than stay in secondary.