Last week I introduced my cousin's husband to the game. He played the Empire and I played rebels. He got really excited about building a super star destroyer and a second death star. I kept getting objective points and telling him that the most important thing for him to do is find my base. In the end he was surprised when I won and said he had been chasing red herrings.
Do you think that projects are red herrings for the Empire? Is it worth it to tie up a leader for two turns just to get accomplish a project? It is highly possible doing some of your projects will make it easier for the rebels to win. (Super lasering everything or giving them a second death star to destroy)