Rank is nearly useless in comparing a pilots skill to the community. I guess it might be usefull on an idividual bases to see if, you are killing faster, dying less, aiming better, landing more kills. Of course even this is only useful to you if you make an effort to increase one or all of these catagories whenever you fly.
The problem with trying to apply rank, to your ability, is that A) some really great pilots have poor rank, B) some bad pilots have good rank. Many people don't fly for rank, fly in ways that may be fun to them, but reflect poorly upon rank. Rank can be easily manipulated and imho should be taken with a grain of salt. So when you consider that your rank is 1300, and you think it is accurate that 1300 should be your rank. You also must consider the amount of time everyone below and above you have flown, the planes they are flying, the ones they are shooting at, the circumstances they are taking their kills, and whether or not those people actually make an effort to have a good rank. There are just far to many variables to consider. If you want to find out how good you are, duel people...and even then, and at every skill level, If you are equal pilots and equal planes, then nothing is for certain.
It's not right or wrong to fly for rank, but imho, you should not gauge your score in relation to how skilled a pilot you are. That is for everyone else to judge through fighting. Fight well, and you will be thought of as a guy who can fight. Anyone who I consider a good stick are people who i've fought over the years, not the ones I see ranked whatever. (though they may be good).
In the end, score should be taking a back seat to the enjoyment you get out of flying. Some enjoy the grind of ranking high, others don't.
