I ask people - what works best if ultimately I want X to happen? But my plotting tends to go in layers - I write the big plot, and then let it steep in beta where all the plot holes i didn't see are pointed out to me. I go back, I rewrite, rinse, repeat. It tends to be less 'what direction should I go' than 'how do I fill that glaring plothole' in my writing :D

If it's helpful to know - I like the sound of pulling in Planet B for all the reasons you articulated.