Does anyone have a strategy or deck using leadership that doesn't rely on this card? I'm trying to avoid uniqueness issues in the four decks I'm working on, but this card seems like it HAS to be in each Leadership build. Are there any strategies to cope with its loss or is it even really that important?

Uhm, I really tried a lot of weird stuff, but that didn't come to my mind yet. Hmmmh, wouldn't it be even wa better to play Steward of Gondor like usual and spend its resources to the "Saruman Construction Company Ltd" instead?

Its a valid concern in multiplayer games. What I usually like to do in those situations, is to build a deck around Gloin, he can fill your resource needs without relying on SoG.

Or just force the Steward of Gondor player to run 3 copies of Parting Gifts.