User blog comment:Xaero Dumort/BioWare finally broke my good spirits./@comment-98.195.131.51-20120519022113/@comment-1388547-20120521170621

So far as I'm aware that's not true. There are ending variations (minor ones, but important -- specifically, Shepard surviving after the Destroy ending) that can only occur if you have 4000 or 5000 EMS. If you don't play multiplayer, you'll be stuck with 50% readiness, and I don't think it's possible to get 8000 total military strength.