I had two great games back to back vs Port, as Russian on the weekend.
Im low level so its not that stupendous of a battle, but at least we were evenly matched HC wise.
First game was on Rockies. I do a very bad job of raiding his vills, ie I dont get any, he booms and overwhelms me with Cassadores and Pikeman. I also only get one blockhouse out and no fort.
Second game is on Great Plains. I do a much better job of raiding with Cossacks. It keeps his head down long enough for me to get a base down. He hits me hard with Cassadores, Culverins and Dragoons. I did manage to get the two blockhouse card out (low level, you start with it). Then my fort, then my factory. He swarms me with Cassadores, Dragoons and Culverins, takes down my fort. I mass Strelets (I countered his organ guns early). He cant take them down fast enough, as Im building out of four blockhouses. Slowly it turns and I roll up his factory. (He had I think a very poorly placed fort).
First game, no raiding, spent too much wood on TP's early and didnt have enough blockhouses, and didnt get my fort early.
Second game, fort comes out ASAP, two extra blockhouses, and (because my Eco Macro is bad, and I had a tonne of wood, with less food and gold), Lakota axe raider thingys. I had two Lakota TP's so were making 20 atta time, and they were taking down his Culverins so I could bring up the Heavy Cannons.
I think the first player was better than the second, but the second had a lvl 13 HC, and had three merc cards in his deck. (BTW never keep Opri's around Ronin, I lost 8 in a blink of an eye, and Mamelukes shrug about everything off unless you have overwhelming numbers)
It does seem to support some of the theories here. But with low level Russians, dont worry too much about the XP from TP's, get the Native ones, and fill the weakness' in your armies with natives.