Traveller: The New Era had a tactics skill from what I remember. I don't think that it's a bad thing to have in the game, specifically for all the reasons previously mentioned.
I also think it gives the Referee a way to make life a little easier on the PCs (without them really knowing about it) if things are likely to go really bad. For example, the Ref can roll the Tactics skill as a hidden roll and state that the PC with the skill realizes that 'Plan A' is not particularly good and 'Plan B' is a better option. The players see it as a successful use of a skill and not the Ref giving them a lucky break and in that way, it doesn't feel to them as though the Referee is taking it easy on them, they feel as though they've earned the 'good luck' through the use of their own abilities.
Yeah it's deceptive but it's purpose is to stop the PCs being killed off unnecessarily and GMs have been doing that sort of thing forever so that their players keep enjoying the game and enjoying the game is, after all, what it's all about.
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