then you are low level. roman special unit is the worse (but is very powerful early game) as are the japanese / germans units, because they receive crazy bonuses in the classical age (which other nations dont get)
by end game, your french unit has a lot of HP
once you get to gun powder age, the problems you are experiencing with their uniques go away
and late game, that 15% time reduction in army training takes a good 30 minutes away from waiting to raid again in general play
thats better than japanese whose TC is pretty obsolete and peace treaty is a joke when late game is about medal raiding and not solo farming resources