Thoughts? Yes, every situation is different, so its hard to make any generalizations.

That said, I think the advice that you have to always be up front is overstated. On a course that's pretty smooth, and open (i.e. easy to move up) it may be a waste of energy to be in the top handful all race. Local example would be the Lake Mary Crit ( easy 3 turn, wide course).

On other courses, you may have to be up front to have a prayer. Local example Tampa Downtown Crit. (tight, 6 turn crit, with a narrow, cobbled chicane that kills the back of the field.)

You just have to find what works for you, on a particular course, and with the dynamics of a particular race.