I disagree, but only because I like being able to build an army around fluff and theme, and the idea of a wandering sigmarite horde for an army appeals to me as a fluffy option.
If anything, I say eliminate the ability to take two stanks and a war altar; this makes far less sense fluff wise than a wandering band of mental peasants. However, neither bothers me enough to really push for it, just sayin'.
As for martyrs, I wouldn't mind seeing something better or different. Any ideas?