i think she needs to be in the front now, MAYBE 2nd, never 3rd.
the amount of meter the opponent may have for a punish is severe at 2nd/3rd character slots. and if they guess right once it could just mean death.
with her in the front, it's like the idea of takuma in the front, you earn your right for major damage (build up the hd bar for fattier combos). plus with the opponent having little meter she won't be punished for a bad read, so you can go nuts with her.
also i think her bff is vice right after, or anyone that doesn't need hd meter.