Can both sides of this discussion provide reliable links (not wikipedia, although I recommend looking at the bibliography at the bottom of the relevant questions)?
This could lead to game-wide adjustments in the treatment of commoners, so I want to be very, very sure that we have our facts straight.
ONLY if we assume the way we treat commoners know is supposed to be 100% based on historical evidence. Personally I've always gone with the "Tom would like to see it this way" approach.