Are low-armor and low-HP units useful at all when going for no losses?

[the benevolent adversary]

you inspired me to right a thread about my favorite early army; it is over in the crossworlds forum.
basically for me the best early army consists of engineers, guard droids, arch-mages (from scarlet island; for the mages you need to do one battle), inquisitors and either royal-snake or griffons). after debir I sub out the arch-mages for repair droids.
you need to get the first strategy medal or just kite flags or the ancient droid to have enough leadership (as mage) to equip the engineers.