The problem with the whole ENY thing is simple, because of it there is no motivation to capture bases or do anything more strategic than furball. Success means you lower the number of enemy planes in the air, which means you limit your available planeset, so now we have a system whos direct effect isnt to balance the sides, but rather to remove all motivations, or rather punish those with motivations to 'win the war'.
One of the games strengths is the feeling of community, and the capturing of that human tendancy to latch on to something, no matter how arbitrary and call it your own. Its why some of you root for the Steelers while others for the Seahawks...or whoever...you have a team that you root for, even though as the years go by not a single member of that team you began with is still there. You still maintain a strong affinity for that team.
So after flying with Rooks, Nits or Bish for years, the ENY punishment system is supposed to do what again? It does little to have players change sides...as seen by the thread starter, all it does is breed discontent.
First the calls were 'we need something to balance the sides'
Now its 'it needs to be stronger'
You cannot PUSH someone to change allegiance, you can only breed distrust and anger by trying. This game is wandering away from what made it great, and attempts to pacify the vocal minority will only hasten its fall into medeocracy.