Persuasion: beginning or end?

Experts and stylists disagree about this point: What sentence location carries the most emphasis--the beginning or the end?

Here are some examples of both approaches. To emphasize "intent"--

• To properly apply the legal standard, the court must focus on the actor's intent.
• The actor's intent must remain the court's focus if it is to apply the legal standard properly.

To emphasize "deception"--

• When GenCorp told Mr. Mills he was fired for health reasons, it committed deception.
• The deception arose when GenCorp told Mr. Mills he was fired for health reasons.

To emphasize "Rule 16"--

• The only authority for making a competency determination is Rule 16.
• Rule 16 is the only authority for a making a competency determination.

Most experts say the end of the sentence is the most emphatic point. For example, Strunk & White favor the end of the sentence for emphasis. The Elements of Style at 32.

Others favor the beginning.

What do you think?