Crete was a strategic victory, but a hard learned lesson for the Germans. How many times did Germany use paratroops using parachutes post Crete?

Malta was arguably better prepped and ready so the casualties potentially would have been even worse.

North Africa was originally played brilliantly as a logistical campaign against the Axis/Germans. Germany probably would have won if they had Malta. But they probably would have to accept losing a lot of their paratroops to have done so.