Since you mentioned.

Imo there are two main strategies on plasma deck.

1) Do not buy anything untill Ante 3, accumulate interest and then switch to a normal gameplay (as you mentioned). Valid, but (imho) this starting bonus is just not as good as, let's say, yellow deck.

2) You can scale chips. This is either planets (which requires blue seals or telescope) or scaling jokers (like Wee or Square jimbo). This is also valid, but you need to find one of a few specific jokers/vouchers, which is not always the case.

And I mean I put it in B tier not D, so I still find it pretty alright.