Actually bug long term benefits attackers. May take 2-4 waves, but when you take the castle you get twice the defender's gear in pristine condition. Near a break-even as most defenses have extra gear in fiefs. Before attackers would have lost 90% of their gear with each wave and get a bunch of broken garbage at the end. Now you lose the last 10%, but get far more when you take it. And devs have made no efforts toward fixing (imminent? lol, try Dec. 2010, just an excuse not to attack with all your shiny armies for fear of denting your plate).
P.S. But honestly man, it's fine. We really are not even remotely surprised that Occitan, of all clans, would declare war and then never attack. The only French_Canadian I have met in this game that is not demasculated, is BobTheHero who fights first person 1her no shield. Kind of left most with a poor impression of French Canadians (Russians too with how much UIF blatantly cheats, but makes sense those two groups would find each other). I am sure most are not like them, but really bad representation on their part. Oh well, continue the forum war, nothing else you guys are good for in a medieval war simulation game.