OK, since thoughts are being solicited:
First (and most important!), the AvA will still be there. I think. It's there now, and it will still be the only place where you can actually have a generally historical fight. So that's good. In fact, that's great.
Second, 200 people in an arena is PLENTY. How do I know? I've spent the past four or five years flying in an arena that, on its most crowded night, had just over 100. Many of us spent years in Air Warrior, with population limits similar to those of these new arenas. On smaller maps the fights are just as good as, and probably much better than, those you used to find in the MA. You just have them on one or two fronts, instead of seven or eight.
Third, this gives us complain-about-the-perks topics, and that-plane-belongs-in-a-different-arena threads, for years to come. We don't have to spend all of our time whining about toolshedders anymore.
Already we can see Hurri II, FM2 and (my turn) 109F issues. There will be LOTS more as more people fly the pre-1945 planes, guaranteed!
Fourth, I'll bet we get lots of new maps. It isn't like building the pyramids anymore.
Fifth, no one is "fracturing the community." You'll still see the same people as you usually see, because you'll arrange to meet them, or you'll all naturally gravitate to the same places. This is a rejuvenation call for ailing squads. You'll end up with more community, not less.
What I don't know is whether I agree with Storch that the better pilots will gravitate to the early war arena. While there's no doubt that the early war arena will be the most fun to fly in, it will always be the hardest place to run up a big score. Human nature being what it is....we'll see, I guess.
- oldman
