I say " Don't get into a rut of not winning AND not having fun" just because ruts suck. I find it wonderfully refreshing teaching others how to play: I laugh more and I usually win.

For competitive-only, tournament playing, acrylic hunting X-wingers...I would suggest playing lists that beat you in a match- or lists that irritate you. You will see the other side, but ultimately you will have fun or get a better understanding of these lists.

MISSIONS are the best way to get out of a rut. Co-op, custom, home-made scenarios ROCK!, btw.

My recommendation is going to sound increadibly simple, but it's not meant to be insulting: fly something else.

For over a year now, I have flown dual ion IGs (and not with heavy laser cannons) and I was the bane of many players. For the most part, I have been flying them like dual pre-nerf Echos on stims. It took most players in my meta a year to come up with strategies that can counter them, although I have to say that the appearance of the Emperor, Omega Leader and the Inquisitor really helped in that area.

So what do I do? Instead of jumping on the palpace wagon, I bring out zuckuss, mindlink and a bunch of huge asteroids. Gone is the subtlety, the fancy manoeuvering and the elaborate schemes... now I switched to setting up the battlefield like some demented chess board player. It's not as fun as my old IGs, but being unpredictable has its fun moments as well