Ways to kill off useless family members.

[Motep]

Have him lead a pathetic stack deep into enemy lands, and fight anything that moves......if he survives, he's probably a hero and all of a sudden somewhat useful - if he dies then well "whadda you lost" :)

Yup, it is what I do. Leads to some very fun battles, on top of things, and I have actually managed (once...) to scrounge a good general from a waste of meat.