well maybe Hanlong overestimated LaF's importance to SoF's rise.... but like I said, I am repeating the discussions with Hanlong that he said (and even wanted us) to provide so that the rest of LaF wouldn't take the fall for the actions of a few.

I did not have visibility into SoF/LaF relations beyond what Hanlong has told me. However, the way he said it (and frequency that he said it), I would gather that he was not saying it in jest.

I personally think that SoF's resurgence is based on a lack of morals and playing the game like selfish pricks rather than as positive contributors, but that's just my personal opinion. That was what I always thought made alliances like SoF stronger -- acting more like SoL always did. :p
SoF's troughs are when they try to do good things (ECM war, for instance).