So in theory the game can be beaten without improving any equipment for soldiers just bring enough smokes and patience. You can mawn anything down with time. I think most people who win use this tactic most of the game.
Only true for missions without civilians. If there are any, aliens kill half of them the first turn and the rest on their second. Most of the time. Unless the player kills several aliens on the first turn.
Palanx soldiers need to pose as targets to protect civilians. So most of the time I use a mixed tactic where only valuable soldiers are covered in smoke. And sheevar plasma blades can always kill smoked soldiers too.
4700000 cash. never had any money problems
So, you never had any available workers you could have placed into a workshop which you couldn't build because of low cash ? Or analog for scientists ? Come on.
Maybe true for late campaign where there seem to be such a lot of UFOs. (Hm hm, I think I should be able to do it without fire/hire even.)
Smoke grenades are the way they are supposed to be, and fire/hire is an implementation side effect. I don't see any reason why retrying (retry button) or reloading (quick save - removing the button is pointless) shouldn't be cheating. Not even when I forget to fire/hire, ugh.
EDIT
Also, if a player decides near the end of a month that a few soldiers/scientists/workers less suffice as well, where's the difference to fire/hire ? Wages should be counted continuously, every second, accumulate during a month in a variable and then be subtracted.
