IMO: A Stellaris type faction system that applies to every nation would be more ideal, and is more realistic. The system Paradox is planning to use now is not original at all, it’s directly copied from EU Rome.
And really, did EVERY ancient Republic have exactly 5 factions??
Copying most features, and improving a few, is what sequels do.
Agreed. I feel that by hewing to the primary historical texts of the Roman Republic most game developers over-emphasize the negative impacts of the Populares and take it to a very simplistic degree. The bare minimum threshold of the Populist faction should at least improve public order.
Populists are what they are because PDS wants certain actions and gameplay styles to destabilize the Senate. Thus, they need a faction which has only bad effects thus they decided to call them Populists. It's not vice versa where they need Populists to be there (hint: they don't), and they decided that they can only have negative effects.