Absolute skills

SA is a targeted leveling strategy that, according to the developers, is the most optimal.

This statement is a fabrication. The developers have never stated that SA is the optimal path for development. The presence of a desirable perk does not mean that it must be obtained at all costs. Often, the price turns out to be too high. And this is especially true for SA (rigid, monotonous leveling, irrelevant perks, lagging behind in development, high level, the risk of a major setback if you are unlucky with the perks or the enemy attacks before reaching SA).