They have always been rather expensive. I agree with you that the cost benifit is not there.

It's strange how expensive those guys are, considering that by the time you can get them you're already building vastly superior forces of your own for less.  I think the knights and mercs would be all right with a massive buff (6-man unit, 4 accessories and high-end mundane weapon) if you're gonna pay obscene amounts of money to keep them.  Balance-wise, it'd be smarter to eliminate their upkeep, but what kind of mercenary fights for free?  Instead, make them worth paying for.

Been a problem for ages, I mod them to cost zero upkeep same as Ogres.  It would be good to see it done in the core game though.

There is one situation where the Knights of Asuck (err asok) are golden - in spite of the cost.  One a map where you have no access to horses/wargs - the knights may be the only mounted troops you can field.

When LH is released, if this isn't touched- I think we're probably going to need a community mod to adjust for Stardock's oversights.

They should be free.  They take a lot of research to be able to use a resource you may not even have access too, and they are not all that great.  should be free.