In its current state, this new system is nothing but a complete frustration to the games loyal customer base. First lets preface this by addressing one big oversight, there has ALWAYS been a country 'in the bucket', Rooks spent the better part of 2001, 2002, and half of 2003 with a huge numerical disadvantage....we lived.
Let me also state for the record that those who are loyal customers play this game as a social event, not some quakefest in the air. I am farmiliar with many dozzens of my fellow countryment, and that farmiliarity lends to the overall satisfaction of playing the game. In the same vien, I get more satisfaction when I shoot down a known enemy ace, or someone from a squad who we have an ongoing rivalry with. The idea of asking me to 'switch sides' is akin to asking me to root for a different football team....you just cant flick a switch and become someone else when youve been playing the game as long as many of us have.
While I can appreciate HT trying to 'fix' things, there are a few real issues that make this current system a disaster:
You cant make missions with any of the 5-15 point planes, because by the time the mission rolls, they may be unavailable.
Squad opps become excersizes in frustration, as half the squad get in a 51 or a 38 and the other half who are 1 minute later cant get the same plane.
Some squads fly specific planes, and a P38 squad is sure to be pissed when on their squad nigh they cant fly the 38....or like tonight when a B17 squad couldnt up a shrecking B17!!!
What happens when several squad members log in one afternoon and DO switch to another sides as you hope....and then later that afternoon others switch to yet ANOTHER side all in an attempt to fly a P-51 or even P-38 or B17......then that night the squad cant fly together, cause they are commited to a diferent country for 5 more hours?
Disabling perk planes is just plain wierd....I mean....if the 262 cost more than 225 points....it doesnt matter cause ya cant have one.
I just cant see the benifit...cause it isnt causing folks to move...its causing them to get upset.