Horses also increase movement on strategic map.  That's very important to the way I play.  It allows my faction to spread out over the map.  If a problem arises, horses allow rapid response.  I even use them for archers and mages.

Yeah, Horses figure prominently in my rapid reaction stack, so I still find them useful.  And don't they give +2 MP Strategic, whilst wargs only give +1?  A more interesting question might be how balanced are Wargs versus Horses these days.  I should take a look at the 'new' warg stats the next time I play.

Also, Horses are basically free, and horse + charge + extra initiative + finesse with a spear and some leather armour gives you a trooptype you can literally use all game.

My main issue with the removal of encumbrance is still the fact that you have the "Strength" and "Muscle" traits, both with completely identical effects, but one costing 8 more labor than the other. How does that even make any sense?

Strength and muscle traits give the same results, a +1.  One is more expensive than the other, (I forget which is which).  But they are not 'identical' in the sense they stack.  This means if you want to train (design) a troop-type with (str?), you have the option to train them with +1, and the option to train them with +2.  If you want the +2, it costs more them a mere x2 of a +1.  In short, if you just want +1, choose the cheaper option.  If you want to intensify your troop to +2, it will cost an extra amount (law of diminished returns).  Hope this helps.

Has the 0.85 patch been released yet?

Also, I dislike the fact that the pool of traits for units is getting smaller, even if some traits were identical.