The point of their SP is the gameplay. You can actually choose your next mission in fashion similar to C&C1 and Red Alert on a large virtual globe. Completing side objectives gives you upgrades but failing to complete certain objectives hinders you later.


So it should be very fun to be able to say "Fuck the invasion here, I'm taking over this Necris colony *here* to get some upgrades... I'll put up with the extra enemy resistance *here* later."