[Pocus]

you are 'solving' the pretender issue by killing a valid strategy in the game, valid in the sense that with a correct tweak, it would remains balanced and interesting.

I would prefer a more positive change, which still allows this strategy, but toned down.

And Last but not least, you are not changing the issue dealing with super commanders (Devils, Golems), etc. In fact you are worsening it because players unable to recruit these wont even have their pretender to counter the threat.