Warband really has a brand new engine? It's feels almost exactly the same :/
Anyway I haven't read through the whole thread so feel free to stop reading my post here.
I bought M&B off of steam a few months ago for £4 because it seemed like my sort of bag. I was right and I've absolutely loved the game ever since. I saw they were bringing out an expansion (what I thought was an expansion) So I was even more exited at the prospect of official content being added. The game was released for £25 and I pondered about buying it. Looking at the screenies and description it sounded like MP was the only real extension to the game and also I realised at that point it was a stand alone game so I could understand the price. I gave the trial a quick bash and straight away figured it was just the same game with bump maps and HDR. I mean, isn't it? I thought to myself, hell I'm not paying £25 for that when there's so many great mods the community have made for free. But then I figured, this game is awesome and I only paid £4 for the original so I reckon the company deserves my money, especially considering they aren't some big shot mainstream company so they'll appreciate my money more. And that's still how I feel. I paid the extra money, not because I thought it was worth it in it's self but my enjoyment of the original/series warranted me giving taleworlds some more money for it.
Anyway, the game is awesome still. Can't wait for mods for the new engine. And I'm dead pleased with the online play. Good job.