My issue with shared resources is Shared population caps, playing against a non stop mass of gendarmes is not fun.
Some units are too strong when massed and buildings (and walls) too fragile
If you don’t mind me saying so, I actually think shared resources with random teammates can sometimes be more like a warm afternoon tea together — peaceful and cooperative most of the time, and then suddenly a storm breaks out when the fighting starts.
That said, while I’m not particularly fond of treaty games, I can’t deny that I think treaty mode might actually be one of the best ways to play with this mechanic, especially 40-minute-plus treaties.
So honestly, I think it’s still worth asking whether the problem is really the mode itself, or whether we’ve simply become too impatient as players. I don’t think the answer is quite so obvious.
As for the shared population cap, I think the unlimited population itself also gives you ways to restrict your teammate’s behavior if you really want to. And, well, don’t you have Dragoons?
I agree that the fact that buildings are significantly weaker is rather unfortunate. But as for some of the supposedly extremely overpowered units being massed to the point of becoming terrifying, I haven’t personally encountered situations that extreme so far.
I can’t guarantee that the balance is perfect, of course, since I haven’t looked at the exact numbers. But at least from my experience, I haven’t seen the kind of brutal situation you’re describing.