IR paths are much more different because they are also fire support. Their lower combat performance is offset by calling down hell fire, or making the enemy think you are. JLI are fucking strong, but they are not going to level a block. You don't get IR for the sniper you get it for the arty. You get regular paths for the crit and you DEFINITELY get JLI for the crit.
This I agree with, the only problem is the amount of munition dependent the commander is.
Want paratroopers? Spend 80muni and get a unmanned at gun with it, upgrade your paratroopers with a further 100/120 munitions (and if you loose the paratroopers or want more, you have to invest the munitions again).
Butterfly bombs, spend 110 munitions.
Raid tactics (that no one ever uses), checked: 40 munitions.
Pathfinders artillery 140 munitions.
And then you have bars 60 munitions (almost a mandatory upgrade).
So all up 470-490 munitions if you use all abilities excluding bar upgrades.
Thats 4 out of 5 abilities needing munition investment (technically 5 out of 6 because you have to upgrade the paratroopers).