That's how I view this setup.
As do I.
The statistics simply show that many pilots in the P-38L, simply lack in skill.
Now, I'm not saying that as a personal attack. It's not as if it was unexpected.
Usually, with multiple choices of all the planes available in a certain timeline, the average grade pilots will generally choose a plane that's easier for them to fight in(not necessarily "survive in", though), rather than go for a challenge in a plane they are not much familiar with.
It brings up an interesting question to the CT players: in many different CT setups, really, how many different planes does one fly?
I'm willing to bet most of the people who exclusively fly Spitfires, will choose only the Spitfire, all through the ETO setup. Sorry for "pointing out a finger" to the Spitfire, but as much as the Spits are really a masterpiece in hard-boiled dogfighting, naturally it should mean it is generally easier to manage and fly - thus, remaining a main choice for many pilots even though the setup offers different variety of choices.
So usually, if we take something like a 1944 ETO as an example with all the USAAF planes of the timeline enabled, only about 20% who know how to fly, and actually prefer to fly the P-38, will be flying in them. The rest 80%, usually divides into 50% Spits, and 30% in P-47Ds and P-51B/Ds. The 50% who fly Spits, also fly Spits in Mediterranean, Fight over the Channel, Tunisia.
Now, that's not a problem with only the Allied pilots. Axis pilots are the same - most will prefer to fly the Bf109 rather than the Fw190, in German Axis setups.
But generally, as the Axis planes are all limited in capabilities for "easy action", the problem of people lacking knowledge of a certain specific plane is less pronounced.
To the average level Axis pilot, he won't be able to really "dogfight" the Allied planes be it he is in the Bf109 or the Fw190. Thus, average Axis pilots are ready to try different planes without much disparity in their scores.
Besides, there's only two major fighter plane types in the German plane set in the first place. Only about three major types in Japanese plane set.
Thus, the knowledge and experience of different types of planes offered, is a bit higherfor the Axis pilot than average skilled Allied pilot. The Axis pilots can fly any plane in the Axis setup with simular results(although, they may not be neccesarily "skilled" in general), while the average Allied pilots show a distinct disparity in results according to the plane they fly.
Average grade pilots accustomed to the Spit generally don't have a clue on how to fight in the P-38. They'd probably rather fly a P-51D, which can at least disengage at will, if they are denied Spitfires. Average skilled Axis pilots, on the other hand, can't do much in both Bf109 or the Fw190 - they choose the only way they know how they can survive, or at least, go down with at least a single kill: they stick to combat principles of alt and speed(although they may not no much of in utilizing it fully). In the Japanese Axis, the A6M5 and the N1K2 have pretty much simular tactics when squaring off against faster US fighters, and only those who are confident in the Ki-61, would use them.
In effect, what we have is a situation something like, a group of RAF Spit squadron pilots suddenly receiving P-38s to fight in, which they never flew before, as compared to a group of Japanese squadron pilots who are flying a plane which is generally simular in overall quality, with the planes they used to fly.
That is one of the reasons why I like limited plane choices of single plane type per country. It forces the player to try what they are not familiar with. Also, simulates a bit of the war-time reality, in that the pilots did not have choices as to what to fly - they fight with what they were given with. That's part of the fun in CT - if a bit of historicity limites your planes, you learn to fly with what you were given with.
Ofcourse, people who feel as if they are oppressed, and can't stand to play the game for 5 minutes when their preferred selection is limited, will hate such setups. But then again, generally they hate all the setups that don't feature any plane they can play with easily.
This setup would have been much more interesting without the N1K2-J. I'm willing to bet that even if without the N1K2-J, the scores will turn out pretty much as it is now.
ps) I'm also willing to bet if the "blue planes" are added, 80% of the Allied pilots whill once again, shift to the Hellcat, which is generally easier to maneuver with, than the P-38L. So we're probably gonna get a setup with the name of "George vs. the Lightning", where nobody flies the Lightning but the couple of dedicated P-38 pilots. And people will soon begin to wonder "where are the 'lightnings' anyway?"
