I think were getting more xp now, not sure how the system works, but allways thought it has something to do with item prices, more price on items, more xp per item.
And yeh, archers are alot better at the start of strat, melee guys will be swinging same weapons as u have sheathed while ur shooting, and they wont have armors to protect them from arrows, nor shields that could take more then couple arrows, if shields at all...