What is the meta with hearts?

Hi,

Vanilla dread community.

I’m not a newbie, just coming back to the game. I beat earlier versions of SOD1 and SOD2. Now I’m terrible. This may be down to skill, maybe…

Two questions:

1. Has the game evolved into one where you prepare your community on low levels to tackle higher ones?

2. Is the meta now that you MUST go put down an active heart right away? I’m fighting so many hordes and infestations that I can’t do any of the missions or have fun with the game, or really maintain my supplies. Is this how the game works now?