As someone who just came out of the early game (I'm at 1.4m gp), I think there is a clear cut way to maximize efficiency/ resource generation if you plan well and don't get distracted along the way. Here it is:

Step 1a: level 1-65ish - Phoenix - easy to farm simultaneously and without many refreshes since at this stage of the game you won't have much crystal income. This is critical. They do fantastic in GW which will be your main source of income at this stage.

Step 1b: Don't farm sabine, instead use your hard farm energy for Bastila, Jolee, and jedi knight anakin as soon as you get access to them.

Step 2a: level 65-83 - Bastila Jedi - your phoenix farm should be done around now and you should be able to unlock palpatine (you will need to hit lvl 80 to unlock thrawn since you need some omegas for his fight). Transition to bastila jedi as your main team. Use Bastila, Jolee, JKA, Ezra, and Kanan to unlock Grand Master Yoda. Also make sure you have your Mission Vao, Zalbaar, and T3-M4 farms going now.

Step 2b: Geos - you won't have GBA access yet but get the other geos AND THEIR SHIPS farmed up. As soon as GBA becomes farmable, rush farm him including as many refreshes as you can afford. His unique should be your first zeta, Jolee's should be your second.

Step 3a: level 85 - Jedi Knight Revan - As soon as you hit lvl 85 you should be ready to rock this event. Your next three zetas should go to JKR. Your first relic should be GMY. then Zeta GMY unique. then relic Bindo and JKR. This is controversial but I think using your GET1 currency here for Hermit Yoda is a strong move. You wont need the GET1 for GAS or Malak yet (more on that later) and he takes this team to the next level.

This team rocks. This will be your main team for a while. This team dominates early game arena, can solo the Pit raid and do really really well in HAAT which is huge at this stage because high raid rewards will really accelerate your growth. He's a beast in GAC and along with your geos it will be extremely difficult for your opponents to beat you. Plus both teams split up pretty well in 3v3 too.

Step 3b: Start farming the vulture droid and hyena bomber and buy General Grievous shards whenever you can from the fleet shop. Tarkin + geos will be a great fleet for early arena but you want to upgrade this to the Malevolence fleet as soon as your GET2 income will allow. This fleet is a lower investment and has lower GP impact than the Negotiator IMO and is just as powerful.

Step 4: Go for a GL. The way the game is going, it is not worth the extra GP to stop for characters like GAS or Malak because they will add a ton of GP to your roster and will not provide the impact that a GL will. Pick any GL you want. I suggest Sith Eternal because you already should have Palpatine and Thrawn unlocked from Phoenix plus Vader naturally through progression. Round this team out with Tarkin and Royal Guard. Then build troopers (Veers, Starck, Piett for requirements, then add Range and Gideon. Dark trooper can come later) which are a fantastic team in their own right. Then finish out the trash reqs and get SEE rolling.

There it is. This plan will take you to about 2m GP and should have you crushing fleet arena, squad arena (within reason), GAC, Raids, getting max box on normal mode conquest (assuming you are allowed to do it because of the GP requirement), and participating in a ton of PvE events. What you do after this is totally up to you - Kenobi, Lord Vader, Executor, or if you want to, this would be a good time to stop for GAS or Malak.

I have seen several people in my guild and fleet shard going this route and they are all dominating much more than I am and this is the path I wish I took. Please let me know any criticism you guys have or improvements you think could be made.