Aw man, I was about to post this log! I mean, long story short I got outplayed really hard, but I think there's a couple things that help out here.
1. Lighthouse costs $2, meaning that even after you trash a card with Trade Route, you'll be able to buy one. You're going to want one anyways, which means that you don't get slowed down too much from trashing.
2. My Swindler hits Overgrown Estate, which is just about the worst target. A bit faster cycling, but more importantly it's a free trash. I don't think it would have affected the outcome, but trashing 3 cards before 2nd shuffle, while buying useful cards T3 and T4 compares favorably to a Chapel opening in my opinion.
I think the big thing here is the Lighthouse cost + Colonies. Colonies = longer game = trashing is better because trashing is inherently a sacrifice short term, win long term play. Lighthouse is cheap enough to pick up almost any turn you'd want it, is necessary to guard against Swindler, and isn't bad money wise either (helps that it gives non-Copper $ as well.)
