I think that ObSec is crap, so I like the Baal Strike Force for the Initiative Boost. If anything is close enough for contesting objectives to come into play... charge them, and kill them!
I don't think Flamer Pods are all that great. You drop down, HOPE that there are exposed infantry, flame them, and HOPE that they don't move away or embark in a transport, or charge you. Oh, and you HOPE they aren't MEQ because they'll just shrug off most of those wounds. Once you're down, you don't have continued mobility to keep those Flamers in range. So you sit around, poking out with bolters, until something big and scary comes and smashes your face.
Relies too much on
hope for my taste.
Same deal with Melta-pods. You usually have to drop down, and move out of cover to get into melta range. So if you don't slag your target, it moves away or blasts you to pieces. 3 Melta isn't bad... but it doesn't have nearly the same reliability of editions past. I'd rather use a pair of Meltas on a bike with a PF Sarge... it's been working out well for me.
I'm over pods for BA infantry, for the most part. They don't ever seem to do what I want them to do.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, I think our Troops choices are points-sinks, so I prefer the Flesh Tearers Strike Force. Single Troop requirement filled by Cassor the Damned, from the Shield of Baal: Deathstorm campaign book. [A DC Dread with a 5 point tax to make him a Troop choice.] I'm the first to admit that the bonus initiative is useful against most armies, but against Initiative 1-3, or 6-10, it has no benefit. Further, you're required to spend more points on Troops, when you could have more points for Fast Predators, or Elite Jump Pack units.