Fact one. DSL and cable are NOT available everywhere.
So, HTC should eliminate everyone who does not have access to the Internet via a high speed service just to make you happy? I should lose members of my squad and friends I have known for years because they simply cannot get high speed Internet access at any price? You are THAT important? Not hardly.
Fact two. Flight simmers are notorious for their frugality and their resistance to buying the latest super computer for eye candy. Many of them are "bucks down" people who simply cannot afford to spend $1K on a computer to play. They have children who must be fed sheltered educated and clothed. They have a multitude of responsibilities and obligations that must be met before desires for pleasure are satisfied.
We may lose at least one or two of our squad to the upgrade to AH II becuase for one reason or another they are not able to upgrade to a better system. There are others throughout HTC's customer base in no small numbers who also cannot make it. You and your love of the Il2 graphics are so important that HTC should abandon the regular combat flight sim customer base and eliminate ANOTHER 30% or more of their paying customers to make you happy? Not hardly.
Would I LOVE to see AH II look as good as some of the screen shots I've seen from Il2? You're damned right I would. Do I have the computer and the connection to be able to enjoy it? Yes, and I consider myself extremely fortunate.
But am I willing to sacrifice my friends and players I hardly know so that I can have what I'd LIKE to have. Not just no, but Hell no.
The flight sim world is full of guys like Arlo and myself who struggled to afford a nice rig that runs anything we want. Not to mention guys who can barely run AH I and struggle to try to make AH II happen for them. And it's full of guys like Arlo, and members of my squad, who live in remote areas that may not get high speed Internet access for DECADES. I waited over TEN YEARS to get ADSL, and I live within 40 miles of a city of over 500K.
The fortunate few should think damned long and damned hard before they banish a large and loyal group of fellow combat flight simmers just to get the ultimate in graphics.
No, I'm not willing to sacrifice guys like Arlo and MtnMan and a host of others, and I'm damned glad HTC isn't either.
