Gaming the NOM system could back-fire if you eventually end up with a NOM to an SA you really don't want to attend. You should decide on the priority based on your interests and which SA you really want to attend, not based on how my slots you think are open.
Agree. Ideally, candidates should rank service academies based on desire to attend/overall fit, not on the statistical probability of getting a nomination to any service academy. By example, if the clear objective is USAFA, throw everything at USAFA and don't look back! If there is no clear academy choice, the presumption is a general desire for the candidate to serve in any branch of the military, but that presumption is rebuttable, and it could also be presumed that the goal is a "free" education. It pays dividends down the road when the candidate is truly where they want to be, instead of settling and possibly being unhappy. Just my two cents.