I've been thinking about this, P-M, and I think you are right, although I have one caveat.
The objective for me must be to try to win.
It is good to cast a principled vote, or even a protest vote, against the 2 liberal parties, but how much better to begin to build a legitimate, conservative alternative or to put energy into the strengthening of a 3rd party that already has made progress in creating a viable conservative party?
You hit the nail on the head...