I'm in the same camp. I found that easily convincing the warlords to join me was good, since I had just about every other nation on my back. Doing caravans sure helps keep up the money supply. But the conversation options are definitely messed up. You have a long list of silly arguments and then at the very bottom, 2 unbeatable choices. Also I find it weird how when I went against Stepan Razin for the rule of Russia, he still follows me around and never challenges me. Whereas the other boyars serving me, are CONSTANTLY pestering me about what city to give them, but that's ok, they're boyars after all. But why do we get MASSIVE relationship points taken away for giving a city to someone???
All in all, still very confused. Otherwise, storming Minsk was fun! But now the damned Tatars are after me.