in which occasion will you raise taxes

[Pocus]

quite true, light troops are even less desirable now (and I'm not sure the strat move advantage will weight much in the decision making, but time will tell).

a part of the problem which is in doms II and was in I, is that the upkeep is only based on gold. This lead to a situation where a cardace in leather armor cost as much to maintain than a Ulm pikeneer in maximilian armor (thats the non realistic aspect). And this lead to player favoring again the troop heaviness compared to other advantages.

I for one would really like to see Cardaces which cost as much as before, but with half the upkeep of an hoplite (if you do (gold + res)/ 30 foe exemple as upkeep formula). Then I'm sure we would find a use for them (mass of javelins to back up a phalanx).