Byzantines on water maps in the expansions

Hey dudes! Wait that's not my usual intro. Oh well, screw the intro this is a Reddit post. I can just get on with it.

In the expansions, Fire Galleys are the new dominant water unit in the early game (with people occasionally using Galleys and War Galleys, but always opening with fires). And the Byzantines have +25% attack speed on their fires. This seems incredibly strong, because early game water engagements are really important to control water so you can win the game, and the Byzantines win basically all engagements. No other Fire Galleys can contest them. The Byzantines also have +4 LoS for free on their Docks in the Feudal Age because of free Town Watch and their Docks also have extra HP increasing each age, AND the Byzantines get a unique tech in the Castle that gives their Fire Ships +1 range, AND the Byzantines get a 33% cheaper imp, allowing you to get to imp and retake water with fast fires very quickly.

Seem like a pretty good water civ to me. Think they can contest other civs, like post-5.5 Italians?