thats an easy one for me anyhow..
1st time i played i was nobled out within 3 weeks but after i was able to grow alot faster knowing better what i needed to do..
And don't forget the noble protection for small players and the fact that no sensible player wants to noble a small village when the barbs around it are much larger. (Not that anyone should be nobling 1500 point barbs without a really good reason!).