I would prefer that the arguments presented are not conditional and focus on the substantive issues raised by the topic. I am generally predisposed toward the affirmative when assessing a topicality argument.
Net benefit is an acceptable standard of competitiveness.
Mutual exclusivity is in some senses a subset of net benefits. As a caveat, I realize that the presentation of new cases puts even the well researched negative team at a disadvantage. I look first to the link arguments when My feeling is that evidenced uniqueness in pointing our the improbability of most political capital positions. Given the demands I place on disadvantage links, I find myself willing to vote negative absent a disadvantage. Generally, this occurs when solvency is improbable.