As a playtester of LaSalle (and a few other of Sam's creations), I can assure you that the game was not really designed with tournament play in mind, although it appears to have trended in that direction. While a 3 hour game was the focus, units evaporating was not part of the design philosophy (if that's the right word). Rather, the game strongly encourages rallies (disruption recovery) and use of reserve lines. Gamers who game with a typical wargamer mentality of everything forward into the fight will more often than not come to grief.
But then again, LaSalle was about six projects ago.
Good gaming!
John