Sure, but you're comparing apples and oranges. The jaguar isn't supposed to fight out in the open with other swordsmen. It's also not a power unit like a praetorian that can keep fighting for a long time, with high odds and gain high levels. It has three uses:
1)Early rush, with woodsmen 2
2)Early defense, if you don't have access to metal
3)A healer, with woodsmen 3 and medic after just 10 XP
The jag is better at all those roles than the gallic warrior. Although I agree, you can basically do them with the gallic warrior also. Your rush would come a bit later, but be a bit stronger.
I agree with all of this, in most cases, and on lower levels (below monarch) when Jaguars easily beat warriors.
Early rush depends highly on the empire nearest to you, the game settings, and how many units they have built.
I am playing a Monarch game, Always War, Raging Barbarians as the Celts, this week.
My closest opponent is Sumeria. With 3-5 PRO archers in his Cap, 3 Vultures defending his territory and occasionally attacking me, he became my worst nightmare.
I SIP and built lots or archers and eventually, my 1st city on my closest Iron. As both were on the coast, I can build Gallics in both cities (eventually others on the coast too).
There is a pennisula near me that remains in a fog of war, so, barbs generate there often. I build Gallics, send them over near the shaded area, and then rotate them out after they have 10 xp.
This gives me alot of options for my Gallics.
Some are C1, G3, some are C1, G1, CR2, some are C1, G2, Shock and C1, G1, W1, Shock (both anti-Vulture units), one is C1, G1, Cover, CR1 to attack cities with archers.
The first city I captured was a Sumerian city on a Hill, with 2 PRO archers.
I had a one C2, G3 to attack with that stack.
I'm sure Jaguars would have had a more difficult time with this city, than, my Gallics.
The other thing is player mindset while playing a particular empire.
For any given empire, I might have 10-20% of my cities on a hill, and that is usually by chance, because, I am more focused on my dotmap grid and cities lining up more perfectly.
When, I play Celts, 50-60% of my cities are on hills (usually plains/hills). An active choice.
So, each starts with an additional production over almost every other AI city.
For any given empire, I might have 10-25% of my cities have walls, depending on if it is Spain, or a PRO leader etc.
When, I play Celts, it is usually around 75% have the Dun.
Factor in the natural defense bonus of archers and Gallics on hills, and I don't lose cities, I keep gaining xp. from these barbs or AIs that attack me and go splat.
It is a different strategy, but, on harder difficulty levels (or intentially harder due to raging barbs added), I find Celts fun to play.
They survive most attacks against them (smart placement using defensive terrain and promos).
The phrase, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" comes to mind.
It is easy to get the first 13 xp on Gallics using this strategy.
Sometimes patience can benefit you more, than rushing.