Well it sounds like those were legitimate issues with graphics tech of the time, and it makes sense to me why they would remove them (except the bomber whiners... and I'm a bomber). I would think that by now, they could implement a better cloud method. And the solution to the buffs thing is have a weather map available on the clipboard map (I know that the Wind is already there). This weather map could allow bomber pilots to know beforehand, at least to some extent, what the weather is like at the target. Once again... a real issue of war. As long as the weather isn't OVERDONE, then it can be very impressive.
Once again, the small things are what make the biggest difference.