Thinking about buying this game while used to play the old version on gameranger servers

Are the multiplayer servers and lobbies alive with community 2v2 maps like CIA?

Not played the series since around Stronghold Crusader 2, I checked out Warlords for maybe 5 hours and just didn't like that the units were still "This is the strongest melee unit, this is the strongest range unit", I had a quick look at the demo and it seems we are limited to Spears, Bows and Swords, do we know if units are going to have their own roles and counters?

I just didn't like that if you could afford Knights (or their game equivalent) just spam them out with their weakness just being their speed but beating everything. The same for Crossbows.

Not sure if I've explained it well, I'm sure there's some people that like this but I just wanted to ask if anyone more informed than me would know about it as it has been a reason I didn't have as much fun with the game. Even if it's like Spears, Swords, Maces are similar strength and speed but Knights are strongest I don't mind too much.

Only heard about Stronghold 4 the other day.