I only do the daily challenges.
I almost never find it beneficial to build an offworld trading company.
I managed to shave a sol off the yellow smiley's top time last night by prioritizing the Hacker array verses ALL the other options. ( I know I tried.
)
Sure the real-time head to head boys get all the fame and glory... but if you really want to see optimal play style try playing against humans who can see what you did and improve on it. Dude, it's cutthroat, and it is definitely not the same strategy every game.