In something like stalls, most people have commented that they have finer control at the edge of the stall than in AH1. I would suspect that your settings are different between the two. The changes to me are pretty subtle and not at all like you describe. I think you have a specific hardware or settings problem that you are mistakenly attributing to design changes in AH2.
I did have rudder problems initially but have sinced found where I screwed up and now the system seems fine. The issues I am noting do not appear to be configuration as the show up when the maneuvers are continued, not when you initially start things. To me, and maybe its just my flying style, you have less warning and control at the edge of the stall, especially at lower speeds and tight turns, but some maneuvers are easier to control, like stalling and reversing to a chasing opponent.
You say stall speeds, climbing speeds and top speeds have changed. Please specify what you're referring to because for all but a handful of planes, these attributes are unchanged.
NOTE: The only planes I have flown in AH2 any length of time are the Zeros (my favorite plane under AH1) and the P-38s (learning).
I agree that some maneuvers where you are purposely trying to stall the aircraft to do reversals, etc are easier to perform and more controllable. But with the planes I normally fly the stall comes on more quickly and interferes with even tight turning near ground level. Plus the line between stalling and blackout seems less forgiving. No, I can't give you exact numbers, but I will start writing the differences in airspeeds between when I am flying AH1 and AH2, maybe it is me, but the same maneuvers produce different results to me.
On the later model Zero I have constantly stalled out in tight turns lasting more than 3 revolutions, which I never had a problem with in AH1. Climbing out of take-off while trying to avoid swooping enemies have shown the same issue of very poor acceleration while performing the same maneuvers as in AH1.
With the P-38 I have had to run WEP almost continously while circling more than 3-4 times at altitudes under 500 feet, while NOT climbing and chasing someone to maintain speeds above stall with flaps level or deployed 1/4 or 1/2. And I have constistently had my air speed drop to 100 while circling tightly and moderate climbs where the same manuevers in AH1 kept the airspeeds at 130-150 under WEP.
It seems that the planes don't maintain their speeds as well in tight turning, eventually resulting in enough loss of speed that they do not stay above stall speed. The P-38 is unforgiving when that threshold is reached, resulting in tail spins I didn't have under AH1.
I have no idea what you mean when you say the P-38's dive flap was removed. And it's climb rate was reduced? That's quantifiable, what's the change?
SHouldn't Shift-C lower the dive flaps on the P-38 since it did have them? I haven't tried it in AH1 (have flown the plane, just never used the dive flaps), so maybe it isn't in AH. I get a "This is no longer supported" or something like that error.
If you find a bug it should be reported so it can be addressed, but you're making some blanket statements about things that I can't follow without you being more specific.
The only real oddity I have seen that might be a bug is when dog-fighting with 1/4-1/2 flaps on teh P-38 and then raising them and continuing level flight the plane seems to have difficulties maintaining altitude without the stall warnings sounding even if the airspeed is acceptable. But only occasionally so I cannot say its not me doing it. Actually I am not an experienced pilot, I am mainly reporting on "feel" of the game, based on AH1 and my limited experience.
On a positive note I have not had the problems with my joystick settings changing like other people with Saiteks are reporting and the video has been smooth every time I have played, no delays like others have had. My "problems" have seemed more like changes in play, not bugs so I didn't think of a bug report :-)