Proportionate Planet Smashing is a Balance versus Planetary Orbit Shift

I have heard the complains of many players towards proportionate planet smashing, but I have to maintain that proportionate planet smashing is really a piece of balance towards the future implementation of planetary orbit shift using Halleys.

I have long wondered what would be the point of shifting a planet (unless it is your core planet) when you might as well smash it into the enemy base to eradicate them straight away. I guess it was a balance against planetary orbit Halley shifts in the end - it creates a tough tactical choice between using a planet now for short-term nuking benefits and leverage gains over the enemy, or for the long-term haul by using planetary shifts to shoot units using the unit cannon in future builds, to take over an enemy planet's resources, without sacrificing one's worlds, or using teleporters.

So far, planet smashing seems to be rather balanced, as compared to past games where a single planet smashin' rush can undo the works of most commanders.

Perhaps what can be done next is to provide a possible counter to Halleys using planet orbit shift?

We don't have a weapon in the game to destroy / do damage to planets / asteroids. You can cancel a moving planet now though so it is totally possible to strategically move a planets position. It would be nice if we had the UI option to smash or send to new orbit to reduce the micro on doing this however.