DISCUSSIONS on “Rules for online games in HoMM3 and formulas for calculating player rating.”

IMHO, to achieve better balance, one should play TE. But if you remove the canned goods, hives, (and maybe Dragon Utopia), the game will lose its edge.
Clearing the treasure zone as early as possible is, IMHO, exactly what defines experience, abilities, and skills—meaning, the player's class!