Thanks for the feedback.
I like your changes (btw I assume you meant 28, not 38, as a start location).
I don't think terrain will matter unless it's something like swamp, which would increase the fatigue of units without swamp survival. All of the provinces you suggested are either no specific terrain or border mountains, which I don't think pose a problem.
I'll go ahead and change the map file to reflect your suggestions and, if there's no objections, upload the revised map and start the game on Wed. So if anyone has last minute pretender changes get them in quick.