As above, it's not clear to me in what ways your party is worse off for using the strategies you describe as sub-optimal. Consequently it's worth talking about what you mean by "optimal". Optimizing for time (in the sense of finishing combat in the fewest possible rounds)...
's when the characters get to know each other and form the bonds that will turn a gaggle of strangers into a party that would fight and die for one another. Sure, you've got only the most basic class abilities, and there's always the looming danger of getting one-shot...