I’ve watched so many pro games and almost never see anyone building stone walls. Unlike palisade walls, which are very useful in the Feudal Age to buy time and prevent the enemy from entering your base.
Is this because Arabia is so open, making them a waste of resources, or are they just underpowered?
It’s because pro players always devote their starting stone to two extra Town Centers after hitting the Castle Age. Or they sell that stone to buy food for a faster time. Walls have no place in that plan.
And because walling with houses and others buildings is too efective, even until late castle age.
Just because the pros don’t need them, it doesn’t mean we don’t need them.
When playing at +2000 elo level yes they are a waste, if the enemy can reach your base he has already won. When playing everywhere else, stone walls are very useful.