Well:
First of all, Sumerian farm bonus means precisely NOTHING. By the time a normal farm runs out you better be thinking about ironing, not CAs.
Shang--Yes! The most dangerous CA are the ones that hit in early bronze. Shang getting 4 CA in my town FAST is what matters, not that they have more vills on wood.
Phony: Yes. More wood=more CA faster. I don't worry about CA hitting me enmasse, and I don't care how much wood you pump into CAs in late bronze. Phony CA are dangerous because they are cheap and phonny is fast (relative to other CA).
But still, CA are all about vill killing. A billion CA by 40 mins is still no big deal. I worry about CA raids before I am ready to defend--therefore CA that are FAST or POWERFUL are the best.
FAST: Shang, Phonny
Powerful: Assy, Hittite
Also egy CA take more tower shots before dying, so they are good.
Sumer CA are laughable. Theyare plain vanilla CA with no econ bonus to make 'em cheap. Compy bait if I have ever see some, despite those ST.