Yeah giving the rebs money definitely makes a difference - they tend to have much, much larger garrisons - not only slows the AI down a bit, but can force you to carefully consider your own expansion too! Usually give them a large lump sum at the start, then if i remember some extra money each turn too - great for stopping factions like the Sweboz taking over half of europe before you really get going

Oh and i usually have to 'promote' regular units before i recruit elites at all - like when two or three units of pezhetairoi get up to silver chevrons i'll consider disbanding the three and recruiting one unit of elites with the reasoning that the best/richest/most influential men of the three form the new elite unit, and the remainder either go back to their farms or rejoin the regulars - makes an army feel more unique pretending that the Peltastai Makedonikoi actually came from the best of the pezhetairoi - things like that