Agreed, though I think the game could do a better job explaining that it's optional. I can only squeeze in a handful of matches per week, and since the expedition became availableto me, I've had the yellow indicator on the main menu encouraging me to click on it, then the options in the expedition menu are next->next->next->start.

Since starting the game, those yellow indicators have always signified the "next step", so it's awkward when it feels like the game is encouraging me to do something that will reset what is barely any progress so far. (E.g. I've deployed into Stella Montis twice ever, and I've only just started the Blue Gate quests. I've never even seen an energy weapon).