Rich,
The only point I would make is that with a flank attack the attacking unit may not be in actual contact with the losers - the poor sods charged in the flank are going backwards prior to contact! (even if in our "melee" situations).
Also one of my aims is to get melees over with quickly - in an attempt to reduce the number of melees per se, so a reduction in the factor may well prolong melee rather than keep them short and sweet!
DB
PS Austerlitz Pt 2 on Thurs, (hopefully!)