[quote=@Balance]
<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

What I’m hearing is that, in the end, I have to acquire as many territories as I would have on my own—but these, to hand to your friends. This only makes sense to me if the territories I want are really difficult for me to get on my own, and if I know of a bunch of easier territories to get elsewhere. Or, if I trust your friends enough to protect me once I give all my territories back to them, plus one more.
[/quote]

It also serves as a proxy to prevent you from engaging in conflict directly and expands the scope of your control. In addition, many beings are seeking to expand to adjacent territories in order to meet the requirements to control the System. That offers strategic advantages to you to protect your dimension.