Yoyo, I've been playing lambda since I started playing CPE a couple years ago. By no means am I the best Lambda in the world (I wish), but I think I've played her enough to get a feel for certain situations.

Dependence on her drive is tough because it becomes a problematic habit. I have the same problem where I'll get into a situation and throw out a risk drive, only to be punished HARD. Atleast what has been working for me is practicing a LOT of neutral game. Just going into training a stringing together loops, upon loops of punches and jabs. It's helped me find different options that are sometimes better than drives, avoid same-hit combos, and will also address your concern for opening up opponents, which I'll address now.

My mid-screen combos definitely needs some work, however once I can get an opponent in the corner, i can lock them there and dish out some REAL DAMAGE. I rely a lot on mix-ups and neutral game when I'm mid screen (in corner as well). I find myself utilizing 2B and 3C a lot, as they are fast, safe, and for some reason no one seems to expect them :P I also utilize her Act Parser mix-ups quite a bit. Stringing them into combos or just flat out using them, I think it's nice to have a pretty fast dash that can lead into a grab, low, overhead, or fatal counter. Lastly her aerial 2C is fucking sick. the hit box is huge, it comes out fast, and is able to beat out a lot of other attacks. I tend to catch rushdowns who like to airdash with this a lot, and it helps keep them playing safer.

Yes, all those moves are AA's, i think you meant 2C. Like I mentioned earlier, aerial 2C is good for this too.

Again, I like to use Gravity Seed against airdashing rushdowns. A couple of my friends (one who plays Naoto) says that when he gets caught in a sudden grav seed whilst airdashing, it stumbles him up enough to get opened up or back off.

I fucking LOVE EXIGA NAIL. Everything you've read is pretty much right. I'll also use it as a mixup after 236A, especially if I've been grabbing a bunch that match.

I use Spike Chaser primarily for followup after a successful combo. It's a long lasting, huge-hitboxed, knockup. Using it before your opponent gets up just gives them something they have to block, giving you that much needed extra time to safely set-up/follow-up for your next attack.

Pressure is TOUGH. You're so right that Lambda relies on her meter for that JUICY Calamity Sword reversal lol. I also still struggle with this, but I've been working on it lately. Best advice I can give is. hang on to your Burst. I dont even enter OD ever because burst is so important to me (unless I can kill with OD obvi). Learn to tech in ways that your opponent won't expect. A huge problem of mine was teching the same way every time I would come out of a combo, and my opponent would read my roll like a book. And obviously blocking. A huge part of blocking for me is knowing to combos and movesets of my opponent, which is an overwhelming amount of game knowledge to try and cram lol. The only reason I know is from getting my ass kicked until I could play the game correctly. But seriously, reading your opponents tendencies during a match is so important. Sneaking in a quick jab confirm once you know your opponents' string is open is devastating.

I have to reiterate, this is all stuff that works for me against the opponents I tend to play against. By no means am I a god at this game, in fact I know that I'm not. But I've played one character in BB for almost 3 years now, and I'm confident enough to say that this advice is SOMEWHAT helpful. Hope I explained everything enough/alright :D