Its a BP run!! Jesus how many times does it have to be explained before the penny drops with you??
Putting a spell on that costs 10% of attacking power is still better then losing up to 30% of the Light-Ships before they hit.
Have you got it yet? Do I need to put on a puppet show for you to understand???
This situation reminds me of the old WW2 problem my history teacher liked to throw out there for discussion.
Her question was this, If you could go back in time to when Mr Hitler was a a baby, would you strangle him while he slept?
This logically would be a pre-emptive measure to save the lives of millions, however this is how it relates to this convo;
Still from EOW would rather cast heroic power (thus sacrificing athena favor) to save his LS, or if you follow, would kill baby Hitler to save the masses, for the greater good.
Skull on the other hand seems a good old fashioned "well we don't need to anyway", we defeated Hitler anyway so why bother, i.e the heroic power doesn't effect the LS so why would I?
Now before anyone rants on about how I'm saying someone loves Hitler and I'm racist or some rubbish like that, it's an analogy to make a point, so don't. Just don't.
Heroic power (or even desire) can save 30% of your navy vs 10% lost through desire. Those are the numbers, cold and calculated.
So for instance, my 264 LS are sent out to crush someone else's biremes, do I cast desire and effectively make it a nuke of 238, or do I run the risk of losing 30% when he casts in me making my nuke 186 LOSING 78 LS before the navy has even arrived.
This shows you are not the player you claim to be, your going strong but are yet to learn the tactical nous that the best players have.
(In fact this is pretty basic).