I don't know if you have to tank or not, although I suspect that you don't. To stay competitive at the top might be a different story. I have been waiting for my own downfall for several seasons now. With prices on the TL dropping to affordable levels, it' s not all that tough to keep a decent squad if you train and plan properly. I have 0 aspirations in the B3 which helps. I don't (usually) spend beyond my means, train not to resell but to round out my team, etc.
LI is now the third tactic that has been charged with being too powerful. Eventually someone will make a squad that beats it. I'm not sure when that will be because it seems pretty strong right now. Mvaybe the developers will change something in the game engine, which will of course be accompanied by lots of gnashing of teeth and etc. from the peanut gallery, or maybe they will just let things work out organically. Either way, I'll probably still be playing.
Once I scored a basket that still makes me laugh.