OK does it really matter in the end? Being an AH god and a dollar might get you a can of coke
The key to the kingdom as far as I'm concerned is as long as I'm having fun, who the heck cares if I'm the best ever.
The best pilots in the game as far as I'm concerned are those who can seperate the ego from the game and recognize it for what it is supposed to be...a big kids way of pretending we're combat pilots without any of the risk.
The guys I feel sorry for are the ones who think any of this matters and burst a blood vessel worrying about how they should never ever be shot down and if they are, the other guy cheated, warped, pulled the cord, stick stirred or whatever.
Just like when we were kids, we still get killed, count to 20 and go back up. It's all good cause no one is dying and the planes are free