First off there are 2 kinds of AH pilots. Those who get very good very fast, and burnout and leave inside of 2 years.
And those who's rise is slower, who get involved with squadrons, events, and stay for years, and years.
Granted there are exceptions to every rule. But generally speaking the faster the climb, the shorter their stay is likely to be. Many of us have been flying since the mid 90's or earlier. People CHANGE over that long a time span.
Interests change, family dynamics change, work changes. What worked for some 6 years ago doesn't work now.
That is a fact of life, but it proves nothing about AH.
Ghastly already pointed out the problems Brand W had with this, no need for me to beat that horse.
AH isn't broken, so please don't try to fix it!
AH is a Flight Simulator with gameplay.
If you don't want to fly p51 vs P51 look into joining a good FSO squadron or get active in the AvA arena.
If everyone wanted it the way you say epic the AvA would be full all the time.
What it really comes down to is Choice!
People for the most part want to be able to fly what they want, when they want.
Which is why RPS will never fly here.
Which is why the AvA is not the premier arena.
Late war Orange is, which has all planes enabled all the time. Period.
(Snippage) Its hard to get into a WWII COMBAT SIM when only the planes are being simulated and while the core of the game, the actual war, is totaly FUBAR (Snippage)
Again, Epic, its about choice. The war was fought with dedicated Military personal who took orders, and died by the thousands. There is no way to simulate that. There is no way to simulate the fear of death as you stare at an approaching plane.
There is no way to MAKE players fly in a realistic manner.
There is no way to punish players for death.
Not if you want to stay in business.
And like it or not, Aces High and HTC is business.
How many of us would be here, if we had to do everything the real life pilots had to do before they flew combat?
How many hours of ground school? (can you say boring?)
How many hours of listening to an instructor calling you stupid? (can you say alt F4)
How many hours of basic navigation practice?
There is no way to simulate the war, not and give people choice.
So the best we can do is fly what we have. Remember and honor those who gave so much. So that we have the freedom to do this. And perhaps by keeping those memorys alive, by continuing to respect and honor those men.
Perhaps, just maybe, we accomplish something as well. And perhaps by learning through AH that we are not so different. Just maybe someday we can do away with real war. Yeah call me a dreamer and an idealist.
I've been called worse.
