Is the ability to stress your opponent's ships (tactician, R3-A2, flachette torps, etc.) essential in list building against all comers?

There have been those games where it's been key: (Snapshot Stressbot Nien vs Whisper) and others where it's been meh (vs Attani).

When list building these days, I seem to be more in the "it's better to have and not need it, than to need it and not have it" state of mind.

Should I stop stressing about stressing and let go of my beloved R3-A2?

Being able to double stress opponents is powerful enough to build your whole list around. Single stress? A useful tool but not going to win games by itself.

I've used Braylen with gunner and R3A2 and had a lot of success with it. Conversely, I've used lists without any stress dealers and still had fun.

It seems like successful lists nowadays have powerful alpha strikes, powerful control elements or both. You certainly don't need it, but if you don't have it, you better blow stuff up quickly.

If your local scene, is very K-Wing, Expertise and PTL-Aces heavy. Double stressing will ruin someones day,

Stress is a good counter for Expertise.

Otherwise, a single stress isn't really worth it, as it's manageable and there are many things that get around it.

I almost never build a list with stress as a mechanic, and I do well. I also perform fine against lists that build around stress, but that's because it doesn't hard-counter anything I run lately.

Ion is probably underrated as well, I've seen it cause havoc with people like Fenn Rau. Probably even more than stress.

Mindlink obviously multiplies your stressing, and I do like Nien Numb, Snapshot, R3-A2.