[Krsqk]

Intel sabotage can be useful, if you use espionage to pick and choose your targets. The biggest problem, as I see it is the simplistic nature of the system. Ships/fleets can do most of the same jobs more easily and with more precision. At the same time, the simplicity prevents intel from being used effectively in specialty situations ships can't accomplish.

RE: the high cost of Tech Espionage, I believe it's to make it more likely to succeed (more points=harder to block).