1. Speed:
I completely agree. Maximum speed was - and is - the key to victory in any fight. It's a simple matter, hurt first, kill first and you'll sustain less damage yourself. Only quality armor can be allowed to slow the combatant down, as it enables him to be hit without taking damage.
While swordspeed is okay, I think axes are somewhat and polearms are way to slow. In generell, a powerfull piercing movement can be done way faster than a strong slice of a blade, in game it's the other way around.
2.Damage
"Ever survived and axe slice through your head?" Nope, and I hope I never will. But neither would I want to survive a slice through the head or the stab of a spear. Basically a blow to the unarmored head would be instant ko (including most possibly death).
Other than that, any type of weapong could use a small buff.
Related to above: Speed/Damage:
Well a trained warrior could easily cut of a limb with a sword, while a newb would just make a flesh wound. Since warband doesn't support dismemberment, somewhat exessive damage in high levels and with high profiencies (?) isn't that unrealistic.
However, theres another factor for damage that shouldn't be left unattended. Chainmail is efficient against blades, however it's almost useless against piercing weapons or blunt trauma. Meanwhile leather is able to absorb blunt trauma quite well, but is less effective against blades.
I don't really know how armor is used right now, but it would add realism if different armor reacts different.
3.One-handed or two-handed?
Every weapon can be wielded with two hands, even an ice pick. However, using it in a way it isn't intended to be used, would mean it can't be used with the same efficiency.
I certainly would like the option to wield ANY weapon either one or two handed, with a heavy speed penalty if not wielded properly, a damage penalty for two-handed weapons wielded with one hand and a damage buff for onehanded weapons wielded with two hands, as it would be in reality.
4.Shields
Signed.
5.Horses
Horses are fast enough I think. And the charging damage shouldn't be overestimated. If you are overrun by a horse, you are ko, well, but most of the time one will instinctively try to evade and be hit by the shoulder of the horse instead of "getting under its hoof". There's still enough power to take your breath and throw you down, but it's not as life threatening as it looks. Actually the damage can be assumed to be lighter than being tackled by a football player. Still, a slight buff won't hurt.
The efficiency of cavalry was due to another point. First they charged in groups, so a man knocked down by the first horse would be trampled by the following, second, and more important, was the momentum and therefore power delivered by a blow from horseback.
A horse in full gallop would add way more damage to an attack than what is applied right now, especially speaking of polearms. A couched lance is the most effective way to use the momentum of a horse, however, even a simple spear will just pierce through anything in its way if powered by a horse. Well, in reality this spear would be lost afterwards, but if you ask me weapon breakage is already way to present.