What is Intel Sweep Really?
Intel sweep is pure and unadulterated points denial. Nothing is better than flat out points denial when choosing your strengths. At the current state of the game it is ALMOST foolproof, so let's dust off this old objective and take a closer look.
When do you want to take it?
Well I like 75 points, as much as the next guy (maybe more), so I take this one pretty often. It doesn't need too much to synergize with, just the ability to out fly an opponent or some judicious use of strategic (my personal favourite). Playing against either opponents with fewer activations or less 'divertible' ships than you can make this an easy win scenario.
So why not others?
Salvage run has more points you say, and I agree as this is an objective measure. The thing about salvage run is that it is much more fallible. If the opponent has even so much as one strategic squadron, you are going to be fighting for 1-2 of those precious tokens. But it does have dust fields, which I'll leave for the author in chief of the upcoming salvage run objective.
Shuttles, shuttles everywhere
This was a solid points denial strategy pre CC/wave 5, and often a great alternative to the omni-present dangerous territory in that your opponent might not get any points. It was arguably dangerous, and a nice gamble, but also required that you had a 'spare' ship to send out token hunting and that your opponent didn't (or didn't just burn down your token ship and waltz around like he owned the place). There are two facets to shuttles though, and ideally you get mileage out of both.
The risk is mostly gone now, thanks to item number 1. The Mighty Strategic. Seriously, what an interesting keyword we got in this one, and as an aside, the aces not having it was an absolutely excellent design choice. Let's revisit sensor net, if we want to play that we need to devote your shuttles to being strategic mules the entire game across 2 or more tokens. You have best have at least two shuttles as well and hope they don't get locked down faster than you can say some variety of really short word (willing to provide examples in PM, not for the sensitive of ears).
So after that long boring diatribe on shuttles what the heck does all this mean?
The security of intel sweep is locked into the strategic mechanic, and aside from the most daring of opponents, who can afford to sacrifice their relay future, you don't really need to worry about playing this objective past round 1. This let's you focus on crushing your enemies, allowing you to see them driven before you while hearing the lamentations of their crews. Quick and simple, and you have a 75 point edge to top it all off. It is going to be hard to claw that back. Things like this have led to a whole lot more red objectives seeing play in my experience. So take out your strategic fleet, rock the intel sweep, and have some cake while you are at it, you've earned it. Gone is the side tracked objective hunter ship, gone is 95% of the uncertainty in outcome, gone are your opponents hopes and dreams. Finish the objective off and then make them feel the full brunt out of fleets singular focus.