Case Creation Rules option and CRM 2013 Server Side Sync

Hi,

In our organization we are planning to use CRM 2013 SP1 to utilize Case Creation Rules new feature, and we have the following questions:

- I tried to test Case Creation Rules functionality using Email Router & Outlook Plug-in and didn't work. the only way I could test this functionality using the Server Side Sync , So is CRM 2013 Server Side Sync is a must to enable Case Creation Rule option? 

- is it ok to configure Email Router & Outlook Plug-in with Server Side Sync? It looks like there is an overlapping and all these approaches are doing the same functionality!

Thanks

Tamim   

Tamim ALKhiamy