great analysis, i agree with everything you said with a pair of buts:
1- you forgot to mention that bloodknights are now S tier units due to retreat not being a normal move wich is dope
2- while we do not have shields against shooting we can somewhat mitigate it. Necromancers have zombie screening, troops come back, Kastelai, LoN and varghiests can be off the field and come in at very scary angles, even behind the lines wich is fairly nice. We have some artifacts against shooting but i agree with you that they are nothing amazing. So not great but it is ok. Also while the smaller field means we get in range sooner it is true for the enemy as well.
3- we actually have some respectable damage i would say, grave guards, bloodknights, dragon lords, radukar and prince V are all very nice damagers and our other troops can do nicely with some lovin.