Having helped in "Malta" and participated in all of "Stalins Fourth" and flown 2 full practices and 1 frame of "Downfall" (buggers canceled it before I could get back from vacation!), I can say that multi-life events can definitely add new elements to the tactics and strategy.
Don't mistake "multi-life" with "MA horde". they are not the same!
This is a structured event, no 2 ways about it. Depending on the rules of any scenario, you will be required to count lost aircraft, or to save special aircraft before the timer runs out, or whatever.
Multi-life is just part of the description, it doesn't change what it will be, a scenario event, with all the expectations one associates with that.