Yeah, I have to go along with the framerate thing. If that's your biggest issue, it's actually going to be worse with IL-2. I have an Athlon XP 3200+ with a Radeon X800 XT and 1 Gig Ram. I can run 1600x1200 in Aces High at 60 frames per second (only dipping to 40 down low, and that's not sustained 40, that's dips to 40). IL-2 Pacific Fighters is much worse in framerate for me.
If frame rate isn't the issue, good luck =) Maybe we'll see you again if ToD is fun, and it'll be new. Might recharge some of that excitement =)