read the briefing and paid attention to the communications. Still doesn't actually help. (though my contentions have more to do with two missions in 2260 than 2259) as your wingmen can't do squat and your reinforcements are really useless. Venoms only work with enemy fighters as they arrive in formation and a Star Fury is only so fast. Can't keep jumping to the back and front of the fleet every time a new group arrives, and as I said, wingmen are highly ineffective unless using them to gang up on one target.
As a general rule of thumb, if the mission doesn't get beat in the first 15 tries, employ the Kobiyashi Maru, declare victory, and move on.
If people are having difficulty on easy, than I think there are some balance issues. Especially when the difficulty is inconsistent. (for example, Mission 11 in 2260 is ridiculously difficult, but Mission 12 took 2 tries (not sure why 2 and not 1, but 2 nontheless). Also, the "Drazi mission" in 2260, seems to offer the possibility of either accomplishing 1 primary objective or the other, but not both.
Asides from those points, I feel that overall, the campaigns have done a good job story-wise and fun-wise.