Rep specialists to control happiness and growth. They will grant research whatever the gold reserves also, which is quite comparable.
Approx. commerce outside Golden Age...
Code:
Case Depart 70
Sheepish 29
Constantinople 31
Ccow 17
Thessa 16
Shorse 18
Total 181
Let's say 200C to account for growth and cottage maturation. This is
quite generous considering the whipping that's currently on the table.
Universities will grant 50b per turn. With Oxford, ~130.
130*15=1950b, say 2000b.
We have 97 population, so GS is 1500+6*97 = 2082b, already more. Several more REP specialists/merchants will provide 6 yield before multipliers.
GM:
Our capital has 1.6 base profit for AIs.
+25% capital connection
+150% sustained peace
Aachen: +10% population
---
1.6*(1+1.5+0.25+0.1) = 4C
Or... Vienna (ToA)
1.6*(1+1.5+0.25+0.5) = 5C
Gold = 500+200*5 = 1500gold
Current beaker multiplier is ~1.35
GM = 2025b
Summary
Universities+Oxford = 2000b on a good day
GS = 2082b (but limited targets) + specialists research
GM = 2025b + specialists research
Similar results albeit slightly in favour of gpp [not computing extra REP specialists yield... they will cut down on cottage maturation for later but initial trek towards Cuirassiers might be 1~2 turns faster]. Also a lot more work though, so that's why I don't mind if the team picks the other route.