Games where Ex Cards contribute significantly to my score almost always involve going over five cards by getting them from advancing to the fourth and fifth row first, holding the pink Ex Card Token and/or buying the tile which gives three Ex Cards. Actually drawing cards using the proper rules (discard down first so that your draw leaves you at or below your hand limit at all times) makes drawing cards for points a pretty lame option. If you are holding a pair and drawing three cards, there are only three cards in the whole deck which will be worth more than the three discarded. Unless you count the cards and the deck is almost gone those odds are not worth spending an action on. To be clear, drawing at least two cards up to your hand limit is generally worthwhile. Drawing one card is a give up move, it means you cornered yourself without a worthwhile play.
Also, the advance-for-money-only card is good but no game breaker. 6 Ducats to advance to the 2nd row is frankly not worth doing (would Mission 2 cost much more than 6 Ducats? It is worth twice the VPs). 12 Ducats to advance to the third row is worse. Twelve Ducats can buy something very pretty at auction, likely something worth a lot more than a net of 2 VPs. Using 18 or 24 Ducats to advance to one of the last two rows is powerful but costs 1.5 or 2 times the maximum tax amount. It is a good move if you can make it, especially if you get another Card for the advance and/or if you had no other way to get the ships and spices needed. If the game has a lot of money in it (inflation) then the low value advances get better. From time to time, I use this card for a cheap advance where it will give me an Extra Action for completing a row. That way it costs negative one actions to use!
Also, the advance-for-money-only card is good but no game breaker. 6 Ducats to advance to the 2nd row is frankly not worth doing (would Mission 2 cost much more than 6 Ducats? It is worth twice the VPs). 12 Ducats to advance to the third row is worse. Twelve Ducats can buy something very pretty at auction, likely something worth a lot more than a net of 2 VPs. Using 18 or 24 Ducats to advance to one of the last two rows is powerful but costs 1.5 or 2 times the maximum tax amount. It is a good move if you can make it, especially if you get another Card for the advance and/or if you had no other way to get the ships and spices needed. If the game has a lot of money in it (inflation) then the low value advances get better. From time to time, I use this card for a cheap advance where it will give me an Extra Action for completing a row. That way it costs negative one actions to use!