Consider for a moment the most pop efficient, powerful classical age unit. Not the RC, not sets monkeys, its an average run of the mill villager. Thats right, they have the best armor of any classical age unit, 8 attack and cost only 50 food, as well as taking only one pop space. Pit them in the editor against any non-myth unit and you will see thier power. They will beat a throwing axeman 1 on 1. 5 villies will beat 3 RC with 4 remaining. 2 will kill a hippokon.
What would be required then to change the dynamic of the game being overly cavalry based? Simple- ALLOW A SETTING THAT MAKES VILLAGERS AGGRESSIVE WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS..
This will reduce the overdependnce upon cavalry, increase the use of infantry (they are still decent at killing villies), and even help with the overpowered set armies.
The limitations to keep villies becoming overpowered is already in place due to the constraints of only one production building for them to be produced from in classical.
Tell me where I am misguided in this?