Well it is a war game, thus making barracks the most valuable thing in the game. As for me I have evenly built my cities, I have a few resource cities and a few war cities...now I'm rebuling my resource cities to produce more food...of course I'm basing everything I do on the way the game is played...unfortunately this tactic may not be good, as tommorow who knows whats going to be goin on with the way things change daily.

But your right, certain buildings are obsolete and are only good for the noob quests.