[Gandalf Parker]

No upkeep, and automatically replenished if you win. That has allowed PD to wear down some sizable armies in my games. Also less micromanagement. And can help insure that at least one province remains yours in a troubled area without having to post an army there. Chokepoints, a newly taken province next to an enemy capital, a newly taken capital, a province with a surprisingly useful recruit list such as from a magic site.

But no spreadsheet logic is going to completely settle it. Some people just dont play that way. There is some RPGness to PD which doesnt quite have it left out of the game. Maybe if its some quick little king-of-the-hill game.