Reminds me of Skyhunter Patrol, which also suggests this could be slightly larger or less colour-intensive.

I think it can stay were it is mana wise. Maybe go to 2/4 though?

Yeah, that sounds fine. First strike is a little odd on something with a high toughness, as it often won't matter, but there are enough circumstances where it will that I'd say it's fine.

"Spears and lances." Top down, knights almost always strike first.

This card is strictly worse than Highknight of the Order, in the same set. That is aggravating to me.

Highknight is a rare :P

Yeah, but you should know that it annoys people. Wizards still do it - Thundermaw Hellkite and Fire Elemental were in the same set - but a lot of people get rather annoyed by it.