The way I see it:
Scenario 1:
I am flying along in my heavy 38 (or 51, or jug, or 110). Uberpilot sees me. I am 5k below at 220 mph, cruising to the target. Or he could be co-alt, or a bit below. But he is fast and light.
Uber turns toward me to do some pilot stuff, get on my tail, and shoot me down. He's 10 k out, coming in fast, and I have about two minutes (do the math) until he covers that distance and saddles up.
My choices:
IF I see him in time, I can get light, dive a bit, and build up some speed. BUT Uber will have an E advantage in the following engagement--there is no time to equalize our energy. If he is closer when I see him, I can't even do that.
OR I can lose the ord, and turn into him. If he wants a fight, he gets one. My best shot is going to be a HO, since I don't have the E to do acm with him.
Scenario 2:
I am upping at a disputed base, and there are enemy planes in the air all around me. (yeah, I know, that ain't too smart--but I do it anyway, and so do you). The vulchers have E, they have position, and they want blood.
Any shot I can get is good for me. Ubervulcher has to fly 25 miles to get back into this fight. I just need to click on a runway.
Scenario 3:
After skillfully avoiding detection by Uberpilot, I have made it to the base with my bombs and rockets. Only to find that there are 12 LaLas, 2 Hurri 2cs, and an IL2 up defending the base. My mission is to take out a FH or two.
Pass 1-In, drop 2k on FH, out, reverse.
Pass 2-Rockets on FH, it goes boom.
Uber and his buddies are all doing the usual "chase the jabo" trick. I have the E at first, but it bleeds on every reversal. After two passes, I am about Co-E with the defenders. There are twenty of them, all chasing poor little old me. In La7s. They will catch me. Then they will shoot me down. If I try any pilot stuff, one of the 20 or so will get a shot before I get one.
So I turn around and give them a faceful of ammo. If I am lucky, I get one or two to go to hell with me.
HOs are tactically sound