Retinue tasks problems

So playing again OG campaign with new patch, I found the retinue tasks tab. Nice idea but execution is a "bit" unbalanced. Find items can net you artifact level loot and find crowns mission can net you between 5 to 200 gold. Strongest items in shops cost up to 300 in comparison.
This is however nothing in face of find companion task. Up to three free, often high level units that travel with you between missions? Having three 50 level units on every map trivializes most battles.
This in conjunction with need to research palace levels creates very degenerate play style. At start you send retinue on find crowns missions and research HQ levels, with non mage hero with low int that can take up to a year in game time (400 rounds).
Secondary, necessity to research for all races and factions put heavy brakes on idea of playing with various nations.
Honestly if time would be resource this would be frustrating but could work. Currently however it simply doesn't work. I'm usually against removing things, but in this case I simply don't see a way to balance this.

Thanks for the feedback! We'll give it good consideration. In the meantime, we have made some adjustments which help to improve this feature in the upcoming version 0.9.