I've ran into the same issue both the last two resets. I hit my land mark and start stocking, but usually within a day of starting that stock I get retalled by earlier landgrabs. Do I need to just keep buying a ton of defense? Seems like people will build up loads of jets just to do a suicide-ish retal, so I could keep buying turrets even once teching 100% but that seems so inefficient due to expenses.

buff up your def as set goes on and you buy stock as you tech.

pick better targets to hit.

hit n00bprince, he provides great land and doesn't retal.