[Q]

I just know that I didn't use intel in SE III, which has a very similar system as now SE V, because I judged the effect to small to be relevant. For SE IV I used a heavily modded intel system, which certainly was not perfect, but at least gave some profit for the investement you put into intel point generation.
I would have prefered if MM had kept the project for offensive intel as in SE IV, gave the projects a moddable chance of failure even in the absence of any counter intel and made counter intel with priority areas like they are now for attacking intel.
Like it is now I fear that I will switch off intel completely very often in my games.