RE: How much strength does balsa / ply add?
Personally I reinforce in the following manner :
1) carbon fiber rods - stiffest in its class light weight very little flex
2) carbon fiber planks - flat and will flex somewhat on its widest flat side
3) flite skin , I used this on inside structures added to balsa or even over open weak structures .
To me this is the biggest bang for your buck vs wood options of ply , bass ect