I like the way it is...
The reason you like it, is exactly the reason why we should prohibit it. DTs are for extending range, not a dumpweight.
The process of climbing and flying enroute to the combat zone requires fuel, and every pilot should be forced to carefully judge on the amount of fuel he needs according to the type of flying he will be doing.
Loading smaller amounts of fuel provides natural advantages of lighter weight, but also provides the dangers of short flying time and early retreat. Every plane is faced with a choice between the risks and rewards, and it is up to the pilot to cope with the situation as it is.
Except, planes that use DTs are granted a waiver from this choice, as much of their flying in non-combat situation is solely dependant on DTs, which can be instantly dumped away when a combat situation arises. Planes that use half-empty internal tanks with DTs are in an unnatural/ahistoric advantage as compared to planes which cannot use DTs at all.
It shouldn't be like that.
For example, a Yak-9U has a relatively short range in combat. So in most cases, these planes are forced to take off with 100% fuel.
In a sense, that, is a price the Yak must pay - since the plane is light, it carries less fuel than others, so it must take off with 100%.
So if the Yak meets an enemy plane immediately after take off, then he fights with heavy internal fuel load. If the Yak does not meet an enemy plane for too long, then he wasted a lot of fuel and must turn back prematurely.
However, the planes with longer range, by using half-empty internals with DTs, are granted a waiver from such problems. Planes with longer range already have an advantage, which follows their disadvantages of heavy weight. They are given a choice of different ranges of internal fuel loads to fly with. If they don't need 100%, they can fly on 50%. But then, they are given another advantage, in that even when they are flying at 50%, they need not worry about shorter range, since they can always strap on DTs which can be dumped at will.
Being able to carry DTs should provide an advantage in extending the overall flight time that surpasses the internal fuel load, not as a makeshift, temporary fuel tank solely used for non-combat purposes so the plane can enitrely rely on 50% internal fuel load when in combat.
If you want to fly five, six sectors and back, then that's where the DTs should be used. Not for flying one sector with 50% internal and then dumping it away.
