1) That is too bad that you can't adjust Palmy by simply giving them more food. I am afraid that making their villagers 65f would make them "too" strong possibly. They can be competitive in games now if you find your berries fast.
2) Greek/Carth/Choson wouldn't be equal with Mino/Shang/Yammy in Bronze...but they could compete in Bronze with Compies and all three are stronger in Iron. I like that balance.
My overall feeling on Infantry in Bronze Age is it will always be down on the list of units to use, and I am fine with that. Hoppies have their purpose against Cav/Camels (Mace and Carth with Bronze Shield against Archers). Infantry is cheap already and if you change the anything with their HPs/attack/they are out of balance. I would be worried if you removed the initial upgrade --- they would flood opponents too fast and ruin the game balance.
Think about this = you have multiple barracks up in Tool. You start cranking out cheap units fast the moment you Bronze. Game is over right there. They kill axers/slingers -- Cav/Camel too expensive -- Chariot Archers/Compies too late. GG
I admit that Barracks units aren't the greatest in Bronze, but they have their place in Tool and Iron...so I'm fine with it.
I think it takes a lot away from the game if you try to have all civs equal through all Ages. I just wanna tighten up a few gaps without messing with the overall gameflow.
3) I think either market upgrade helps Persia.
4) I wouldn't make Scythe any weaker. They are one of the unique units of the game. I wouldn't wanna just shelf them. I think by offering a few countering options would be better. Scythe can be countered in games now with Helos and Horse Archers.
5) I wouldn't help Cataphract. I might be open to making their upgrade less expensive, but I wouldn't change anything else about them.
Lastly, I wouldn't take any upgrade or unit away from any Civ. Removing Hittite engineering/Mino wheel/Greek Trireme isn't worth it.
The biggest caution I have about any balancing of RoR is ruining it through negating it's "perfect" imbalances.
Stone Age is perfect right now -- except Palmy getting to 7 villagers like the rest of the Civs.
Tool Age is perfect right now -- civs and units are balanced.
Bronze Age is near perfect -- don't change the landscape, just balance with all civs getting either Chariot Archers or Compies. They are the most popular units of the Age. Just let every Civ have them.
Iron Age is near perfect -- Scythe are most popular unit. Don't ruin them, just let every Civ have a great counter to them.
Can you survive the Blitzkrieg?