Given what you want I would say your strategy is as good as any. If the schools are unaffordable they are unaffordable. As you have learned applying to UCs is financially futile. To others not CA who may be asking this same question I would add this. If the school has a competitive merit scholarship you can apply as long as you have the understanding that you only can attend if you get the scholarship and the scholarship makes the school affordable. On the whole though you are likely only enriching the school by $50-75.