Beelzebub 说:
you can make game more difficult for yourself by playing on foot, or if you stay on horseback don't lance, use a 1h sword, use an unarmored horse like a courser, don't bring many knights in your army (use infantry), etc.
No one is forcing you to use the easiest weapons (lance + heavy plate + armored horse) and run around with an all knight army.
That's removing an entire part of the game, the best part too! Taking your advice is like asking a piano player who's played for 30 years and giving him a guitar "because you were complaining about how piano is now easy"
Although, there's always fun in learning something new.
I've never seen a lord get beaten by bandits. But wait...do deserters count as bandits? 78 Rhodock sharpshooter lolpwned a low-tier swadian army of 50 once.
Well actually, I disagree with you, Beelzebub is right(in my opinion). I found that playing on foot and not using the best gear and not having the best, overpowered troops is more fun than what you think to be the "best part".