Back to have a look at the situation more than a year later, finding progress made to be basically a bit of polishing in some areas of what was already there, a few placeholder/hastly put together "features" that were already made in better form in warband/viking conquest.
Doesn't look like it's anywhere near being ready to be taken out of EA after more than an extra year from what was originally advertised.
To put it more simply, from my point of view the game as it is offers not much more than a graphical/technical upgrade (I had always wanted a warband capable of 1000vs1000) without what made the predecessor fun.
Must admit I have been had this time around, but looking at the bright side, this experience has taught me to never buy into EAs/buy games at release date anymore (saved me from Cyberbug). I'd rather wait 1/2 years and buy them when polished at half price, or not buy them at all.