Ok here we go, too bad FH, looks like we're on opposite sides of the debate. Keep in mind I play random civs 100% now; both rated and unrated, unless I'm trying out a strat.
Ta's can beat infantry. They can actually mow them down quite well. But to do this, you have to completely out-micro your opponent. Quite frankly, to win, you have to be much better than your opponent, or there's another large variable, like a gold/tc/hunting screw.
The main problem is that TA's take TOO LONG to kill infantry, so by the time their heavy (Hop/Myrm/Murm/Fanatic) infantry can be killed, your meatshield is slaughtered and you'ore being run over.
I think one of the main problems with TA's is that they are infantry. But, they are countered by Counter-infantry, RC, Archers, and counter-archers. Everything except Infantry and some cavalry counter them. TOO MANY UNITS BEAT THEM.
You can make the argument that they are a hard counter, and so everything except infantry SHOULD beat them, but a hard counter is also supposed to slaughter what they're countering. TA's do not. They beat them, but not very well, therefore they are more of a soft counter, except that they do not do well against anything except infantry. Whew.
And I really don't know how you people can say hersirs beat everything except archers. They do ok vs. Cavalry because they are technically infantry, and obviously counter MU's. But they are also massacred by classical units cost-effectively and training time; I believe they are the slowest-training classical unit in the game. They also cost the same as a Hippikon, who beat them pretty easily.
If you say that Ulfs/RC are supposed to be the Norse's main combo, try explaining how they are supposed to afford that, and also take TC's, keep vill production, and get any sort of military upgrades. Also your opponent can get to heroic and run over you with forts and heroic units.
Vote YES for a Norse boost in 1.03 :P