delirium, I've read a number of pilot accounts as well and they regularly report barely getting to 25k in time to be bounced by 30k 109s, or even higher enemy planes.
I wasn't necessarily saying the alt cap was stupid. I think it'd BAD, not stupid. I was saying that we don't have to do the same things that historically LOST the real battle. Example: We don't have to limit the 109s to close escort only for the bombers. This severely limited the Luftwaffe capabilities and the range of the 109Es.
As far as my opinion on scenarios/etc: I don't think restrictions work in all cases. Rather, I think encouragement is needed. Instead of "restricting" the alt (which, unless you use a 125mph downdraft, is un-enforcable), "encourage" the players to fly lower than this. Either by clouds, reduced visibility, cross-winds above a certain alt (*not* downdrafts, mind you), or something.
Alt caps just don't work well IMO. I find it much MUCH more unrealistic to have everybody coalt and co-E hovering at 24.9k out of fear of a high speed downdraft than I find 35k fights unrealistic.
One only pushes the line. The other scribbles all over it and then erases the line of reality.