I think the AARs are making heavy use of imprisonment only because the early games didnt chance it. Only now after many games are they exploring the imprison thing more.
Super Combatants have been majroly downgraded from being something close to an exploit to being just a tactic. They are still useful, but not so overwhelmingly the obvious choice. I think that was definetly the way for Illwinter to go with it. You might still end up in games where everyone goes with SCs but if you do then its the players fault
Of course thats not a promise that someone wont find a loophole but if they do then I think it will likely be such a specific combination of unit, equipment, and spells that it will be much easier to patch.
Just IMHO