First, note that 1 is properly not just heuristic analysis, but also all the other formal and semi-formal methods of evaluation. That said:
1 > 2. (Because 1 is just 2 but systematized, with checklists, corrections for common biases, non-obvious considerations, etc.)
3 <> 1. (That is: 3 is incomparable with 1.) (As you say, a design is composed of many decisions, too many to effectively user-test, etc.)
3+1 > any of { 1, 2, 3 }. (Note that this constitutes the standard prescription for UX design practice.)
First, note that 1 is properly not just heuristic analysis, but also all the other formal and semi-formal methods of evaluation. That said:
1 > 2. (Because 1 is just 2 but systematized, with checklists, corrections for common biases, non-obvious considerations, etc.)
3 <> 1. (That is: 3 is incomparable with 1.) (As you say, a design is composed of many decisions, too many to effectively user-test, etc.)
3+1 > any of { 1, 2, 3 }. (Note that this constitutes the standard prescription for UX design practice.)