Without using the crit token, there is a high probability that the players will not remember an on-going bad effects (i.e. stunned pilot, damaged engine) on a ship.

The list I've run the mostly this game to date has been Glittercrack Brobots. Let's say I lay down a critical damage token. Then I put a blue target lock token over it from FCS and over it a 3rd token (focus, evade or stres). How visible do you think the Crit token is on a cursory glance?

Or you could place those tokens next to each other instead. Seems like the smartest move.

Yeah, I never stack tokens of different types on top of each other.

Therefore, I find stacking next to the base to be the best compromise.

OMG. What is wrong with my fr!k!n phone??? Ugh.

The H* did you do to it?

Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal.