I won't argue about magic; Conflux is the best. But in terms of strength and characteristics (I mean Spirit), if I'm not mistaken, Conflux doesn't have a combat spirit; sorry if I'm wrong. And so what if Conflux is the best in terms of price? You won't rush to attack at the beginning of the game, will you? (Unless you're a kamikaze). And later, by the middle of the game, money and resources won't matter anymore, as there will be plenty of them; I don't know about others, but that's how it is for me. And still, it's more enjoyable to play as the good guys than as neutrals (I mean Conflux, which is neither good nor bad).