Because we have enemies to the North, South, East and West aplenty.
If we choose Antipatids we still have the unified Dauni to deal with, as well as the Illyrians, and the Iapyges of the Messapii to our south, and the interior tribes, and Syrakousai and the Tarantines and Korinthos.
We don't need about a third of our population being disenfranchised and pushing for more and more rights.
And these aren't the rights you'd expect. No. They historically have wanted a separate court, and separate laws and such. They want to able to separate themselves as it pleases them. Unless we bring them closer. And the only way to do that is to give them more rights that seem more like that of an Eretrian citizen, which pisses off our citizens because that shit is absolutely sacred to them. More so in Eretria than anywhere else, where citizenship transcends class to unify our people.
Essentially, the Antipatids will leave us surrounded by enemies, divided massively internally and relying on allies and coalitions for aid. Coalitions which increase the chances of war kicking off or us being dragged into separate conflicts.
It is, categorically, the worst option. It makes our civil issues worse and less manageable, it makes our foreign situation worse, and the manpower and money it gives us is a poison chalice by making it come from a Metic class that we would then start to rely more and more on, whilst they take more and more liberties, either devaluing citizenship, or splitting themselves off into a separate people's. The only way it works is if the players make good diplomacy choices, which we've historically struggled to do.
Overall, it does not work. If you want to hold on and be stuck playing by the tunes of others, whilst desperately trying not to explode the city, pick the Antipatids. If you want a Naval Empire with an innovative and professional fleet, pick Drakonids. If you want to conquer Southern Italy with an inventive, reliable, military, pick Exorians.
