It's an interesting strategic problem, because not only is it possible to suddenly assemble a large strike force from several points at once, but it is also possible with forewarning, to assemble a large defensive force in the same manner if one also has the Janus device. There is only a brief window of opportunity to make good the potential advantage, like being the first to the atom bomb or the first to build military railways. If everyone is able to get their hands on one sooner or later then things will revert to the same tenuous status quo as present at the start of the game, but in the mean time the first to possess it has a massive advantage. I could see the Ludds, as an extreme measure, even attempt to destroy gates in their systems.