What does it depend on?
1. The Map
2. The opening strat of your team
3. The unit make up of your team
4. Status of buildings
5. Position of front line
6. the unit make up of your enemy

Sure you can all have individual strategies, but there is nothing more stupid than seeing after the first payday this kind of crap:

1 APC w/ 1 guy in it
1 Flame tank doing a solo rush
3 techs over mining the base
2 Snipers having to sneak net because the apc guy rushed off like a fool

then everyone is dead... and poor.. and the front line is suddenly our barracks/hand

Communication and teamwork.. hopefully will make it impossible for any good player to answer this question... with respect to the tech/hots who do like I do and sac points for defense.