Most of the games, where I have done a turtle start on Grimdark + dying world, prosperity and control are typically trending downward via random events. So, you will still have a very capture rich environment even if you delay a few months before harvesting them.
I think the most questionable choice, I usually do during creation, is to max out intelligence. As far as I know, it doesn't really affect much, and it is mostly done because I don't want to be annoyed later, that I am forever stuck with a halfwit mc.
I also like to think, that if mc can have 90 IQ in the game, maybe one day I could also have that in the real world