Bipolar, your name fits...
Need some Lithium?
Air Warrior is dead only because EA bought the rights then dropped it because it wasn't a cash cow.
I don't think anyone is arguing the fact that the game is gone.
If it had not been around AH, Warbirds and WW2OL would have never existed.
Games come and go, evolve and die. AW was bound to go out sometime, it isn't about the game as much as the memories. Any game you really enjoy and play for a long period of time you will think back on.
I started a few years after it first came out on dos right before the windows version. I still remember reading the readme and guide that came with the download. I remember thinking "one day I will be as good as some of these guys I am reading about".
I studied and read everything I could on aerial combat and the game. I'd always had an interest in WW2 and especially Aerial combat so I was drawn into the game quickly. I questioned everyone and listened to every tip they would give and attended just about any chat/interview with 'ace pilots' and took notes.
I was in my teens so I am not sure if that is why I was so encompassed in the game or because even online text chatting was cool back then, flying the virtual skies seemed like a miracle. Either way, it was a very fun time in my life and I was instantly addicted. My parents jaws dropped when they saw how much my game cost them though lol. I had to basically get a job to support my AW playing.

Eventually it came out on AOL though and I quickly switched my ISP to play for free. I remember the Turkey Hams, Cactus Airforce, Internet Daemons and so many other Squadrons. A lot of peoples names are getting blurry and I am forgetting them but every time I spend a bit of time to think back on Air Warrior I remember more and more names. I never got into AW2 or 3 nearly as much as the original.