Every question seems ever asked here is really about a different issue buried in the question.
Agreed almost completely.
The conclusions you and I have drawn from this understanding are vastly different.
I'm convinced that almost all complaints and questions are due to players not understanding some underlying aspect of the game and that once players understand how and why things work in this game, decisions on what to do become a simple matter of personal preferences.
In other words, I prefer to enable the player to figure out the solution to their problem that best fits their needs instead of a cookie cutter 'best' solution.
----------
This ties into a point I've been hammering on for years.
Players who master the current best technique for fastest game state advancement often give the 'best' answer for that particular technique with no regards for the actual situation, wants, or needs of the individual player.
Worse, all too often the player who has mastered whatever technique has done so without fully understanding the underlying principles of why that technique does work or remains ignorant of other game aspects not touching on the current technique, either of which leads to advice that is either too vague or inappropriate to the matter at hand.
THe real issue is getting enough aid so the asked question never has to come up.
It is not important what gets aided when.
Disagree with you both. I'm not sure it's ever a good idea to ignore, dismiss, or skip over game fundamentals.
In this exact case of not understanding the Aid priority list, it's why Plunderers love and get to plunder Trains. A lot of players just don't understand that Aid Priority is why their Trains (and some other massively productive SBs) never get Aided.
The OP did the right thing, they asked the right question. They just had the misfortune of getting bad answers.
----------
Any player can put time into assuring a full active Friends list and joining a full Guild with an active Aid Rule.*
That's a time commitment that some players don't need or want.
An understanding of how the Aid button works and what gets priority is critical to optimize the closely allied skills of city planning and assuring receiving Aids needed for the city This can substantially reduce time spent maintaining Aids received and reducing plundering of key vulnerable SBs.
*Play how you want. If you like taking the extra time to assure you have 140 Active Friends and your Guildies are Aiding you good for you.
Anyone who pays attention here knows that time spent on Aiding and Friends list is one of the most complained about aspects of the game.
Also noteowrthy, having 140 Active Friends and full Guild still doesn't assure that a poorly designed city will revieve all the Aid it needs.
Understanding Aid Priority gives players options in city design and determining Aids needed.
Which is true of understanding all fundamentals of the game. More knowledge, more play options, more better.