I semi agree with Sleboda.In the COS army I'm building right now I included Halfling,Dwarves,Humans and Elves.They are all in mixed units with the correct weapons and I feel its easy to say those are hand gunners or swordsmen.I use Loopin Croop models as Shadow Warriors but I include old metal Shadow Warriors as well to show what the unit is.My Greatswords include Old metal empire figures, some dwarfs,some White Lions,and a converted Bloodbowl Hafling with a huge sword.
On the other hand I could see how a whole unit proxy could be confusing to some people and I tried to avoid that.For my Sisters of the Watch I decided to buy the unit as nothing else looked right to me.Old halfling archers didn't cut it not being female.I remember back in the Warhammer days you would see some beautiful proxied tournament armies but I had no clue what any of the units were.I think Sleboda had to play some of those armies and it left a bad taste in his mouth as it would me.