| 2 | 
                    
                        
            Trying to make commanders relevant in the lategame, whether it is by giving them free upgrades or any other mechanism, poses a fundamental problem: because your commander is irreplaceable, it encourages players to be timid when expanding with their commander in the early game, and results in even harsher punishment when you lose your commander to some cheese like Widows, Ravens, etc.
                     | 
                    2 | 
                    
                        
            Trying to make commanders relevant in the lategame, whether it is by giving them free upgrades or any other mechanism, poses a fundamental problem: because your commander is irreplaceable, it encourages players to be timid when expanding with their commander in the early game, and results in even harsher punishment when you lose your commander to some cheese like Widows, Ravens, etc.
                     | 
                
                
                    | 4 | 
                    
                        
            Expanding 
            with 
            your 
            commander 
            will 
            *still* 
            probably 
            be 
            the 
            correct 
            gamble 
            to 
            make,
             
            but 
            the 
            punishment 
            for 
            losing 
            that 
            gamble 
            being 
            "you 
            lose 
            access 
            to 
            free 
            cool 
            upgrades 
            forever" 
            is 
            a 
            feels-bad 
            moment.
                     | 
                    4 | 
                    
                        
            Expanding 
            with 
            your 
            commander 
            will 
            *still* 
            probably 
            be 
            the 
            correct 
            gamble 
            to 
            make,
             
            but 
            the 
            punishment 
            for 
            losing 
            that 
            gamble 
            being 
            "you 
            lose 
            access 
            to 
            free 
            cool 
            upgrades 
            forever" 
            is 
            a 
            feels-bad 
            moment.
             
            Losing 
            the 
            free 
            income 
            already 
            feels 
            pretty 
            bad.
                     |