<Insert non-offensive thread title here>

[muxecoid]

On higher difficulty you can not use running with cavalry, maybe just for neutrals. On Master/Lunatic AI has de-facto infinite casting skill and mana and extra pick further increases the chance of AI having at least one damaging or immobilising spell.

[Tiltowait]

Look, abusing the shit out of the game has been part of Master of Magic since day 1.  Running around to run out the timer has been part of the game since day 1.  Putting flying units in the gate has been part of the game since day 1.  Half the fun of the game is finding new, abusive combos that break the game.  You execute some awesome combo like invisible flying warships, destroy the computer players, and end the game.  Then you start all over again with a new combo.

Once you can beat the game like this, where's the challenge?

I think that when you've achieved total mastery like this, it's time to move on to another game.  You're talking about things that affect the top 1% of highly skilled players and demanding that the game change to accommodate them.  Face it, games have only got so many plays in them.  Once you get to "master" level and the game no longer challenges you, time to try a new game.  Or put the game away for a year or two and come back to it.  

Making massive alterations to a game just to satisfy a few players who have exhausted the game's potential is the path to an unfriendly, exclusive game.

[Suriname]

Ah, I moved this to the other thread, where these points are answered.
But this is missing: "because it's always been like this" is just not a reason, and has been the thorn in the side of game designers since probably the middle ages. Players used to a trick just won't be convinced.

I also really don't think that this alteration is massive. Surely much smaller than removing the possibility to start with wraiths.