It's way better to stay a medium in DW with how SoIs and magistrates work. Also, you need to be summarised 25 techs behind to westernize (so 5 behind in each for example). This means you need to make a push in the 1400s to secure more land (Teuton lands, Crimea, Silesia, Pommerania...), core it by 1500 and at the same time keep moving Centralisation and Free Trade. Patron will deal with Innovative and in mid 1500s you can westernize and start trading for real. Soon cash will be flowing at an insane rate, especially if you ensure global presence to have best CoTs in range.
I've played a couple of games like that in HttT and it's not that hard really. At least not after you get a bunch of vassals to wall yourelf from danger. Egalite is one thing, another is to stop minting entirely for most of the game.