Winning with the entire team specified

I didn't keep notes on conquests so this is speaking from my memory. For at least the past 3 cycles, my 34 keycard wiggle room has been sufficient for me. There is usually 1 global feat, and 1-2 sector feats that are very difficult or require a lot of effort. I skip those. Everything else turns out fine. Some of them are seriously grindy for sure, but that's a matter of maintaining a schedule and has nothing to do with new toons or paywall. This new cycle is shaping up like that as well. And I have never even bought any pass.

So, obviously anecdotally, I do believe CG plans the keycards out. If a player either is able to maintain a consistent play schedule, or spends some money (far from whaling) to save time and gain flexibility, they can get the red crate every time.