When to apply the Hoplite rule?

Expansion 6 gives illustrations of retro-fitting the Spartans and Greek blocks into games for Expansion 1, but what is the historical time period for applying the Hoplite rule?

For instance should it be applied to any Carthaginian v Syracuse scenarios e.g. in the Base game?

In my opinion there are two approaches:

1. Historical: to associate the hoplite rule with the battles with the period of classic hoplite fighting - 5 - 4th century BC. (however that rule is not as "logical" as the rest of C&C:A mechanics. It has more gaming, than historical meaning)

2. Mechanical: to apply the hoplite rule only in battles that have been designed with it in mind - otherwise you may change the balance drasticly in some cases.