Summarised -

"the big hitters haven't been scoring"

we all recognise the fact

You just articulated the most important reason I held my WC despite a brutal start

what was the ffs template pre season?

Its true. The funding of many big value players along with then 4.0 keeper, 4.5 mid, 4.5 defence etc. basically leaves no choice week to week.
As soon as some big hitters blank, that model crumbles as it leaves a lack of a solid spine of good players in a squad.
My cheap attacker was 4.5 and is now 5.4 when bought (wilson). That extra 1m tohave a choice each week is worth it i think (i started him ahead of payet this week).
The template basically isnt flexible and gives little choice. I understand wanting some big hitters, but 3/4 10.0 plus players is overkill when you cant captain them all.
Better to have a couple, then a solid team with good mid range picks and a defence which allows decent rotation for a slight spend and 2 keepers you can play.

I dont feel ok having anyone in my squad who i am reluctant to play when they have a decent fixture.

Interesting. Before the season started I identified GW13 as the optimum to use my WC and set up my squad with the maximum flexibility in order to hold on till then with the option of playing any formation according to fixtures. My players and captain picks haven't performed well but the team structure has bailed me out and i've been able to stay on plan for a Wk13 WC.

Sturridge has delivered exactly what I expected so far....

This is a good point and what I take from it is, is that it's better to spend the extra on that fifth mid rather than having s 4.5 where you can only expect a 2 point return each week. The challenge then comes in the form of who to play. If I had Sako I doubt I would have played him away to Chelsea so then the counter argument is you are always going to bench points in some form. I do get that if you have a bigger player pull in your squad it gives you a better chance of returns but you would still need to field that player. Of course having the flexibility can only be a good thing until the season establishes a pattern

When a particular tactic has worked well for so long it is a calculated risk to move away from it.

A made a midfield transfer yesterday and didnt even think about swapping out my 'permanently benched 5th midfielder'. I thought about it after and was kicking myself, especially as I'm now sitting here with £5m in the bank.

Having a 'proper' 15 man squad -

Advantages
1) flexibility to vary your starting eleven for any given week from your own squad without transferring
2) own multiple cheaper bandwagon/form players that will yield profit when sold

Disadvantages
1) potentially can't jump on a big hitter bandwagon without multiple transfers which cost points
2) Managers can't cope with the psychology of making a (bad) decision of who to start each week.

you are right in that we are on a 'rocky road' and we should be realise the need to be flexible in our thinking.

I'm currently on my WC, but now that I have played it I'm not sure which big hitters I should get. Don't fancy Hazard or Sanchez at the moment so will probably have a midfield of Pedro, Silva, Mahrez and Ayew. Up front I'm looking at Aguero Gomis and Wilson. Unless I spend an awful lot on my defence ( which I do not plan to) I will have a few million on the bank. As you said Ruth that gives me the feeling I'm not being efficient as not all my money is on the field. But now that you mentioned this psychological feeling, perhaps it's not that bad. I could just have 2-3m in the bank and wait for one of the big hitters to present himself to me and I can easily upgrade Gomis, Ayew or Mahrez.

Had a template team structure initially and wild carded after the second gameweek. Opted for mostly mid-priced midfielders who have been off to a good start. So far rewarded by that policy and also by all the transfers in that have been occurring.

I think it is a different season at the moment, eventually without a doubt I believe that will change though and one or more of the usual big hitters will become must haves.

So, flexibility now is good with an eye for the future.

I think one key point is that with the exception of City, all of the teams the big hitters play for have not found their way yet. Personally, I don't believe Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool will improve very quickly either.

There are a few teams that are playing very well right now and personally I think those are the players to own... Interestingly they are coming from teams that would normally be considered mid to lower table.