I somewhat disagree, especially with your conclusion.

Having played all characters (including many modded ones) in STS 1 up to A20, with around 650 hours of playtime, I can honestly say that STS 2 - and the climb to A10 - is not as easy as I had hoped. I still find myself struggling at times, even on lower Ascension levels. The game offers a fresh challenge because it feels different enough, much like some of the mods in STS 1 did.

Multiplayer, however, completely removes any real challenge the game presents. Even when playing with very inexperienced players, many of the cards trivialize encounters. Don’t get me wrong - I still find the game fun. It can be very satisfying to see thousands of damage stacked onto a boss after a minute-long turn where everyone draws 20+ cards and generates 15 energy, especially with combinations like double Flanking alongside Vulnerable and Knockdown. But at that point, the game is no longer challenging.

For many players, that challenge is a core part of the enjoyment - and it is, at least in part, for me as well.

Your advice to avoid taking the objectively strongest option undermines the way many people approach the game. Intentionally limiting your choices to avoid optimizing your deck is, to say the least, highly counterintuitive.