In complex engagements, be it the real world or this virtual one, the name of the game is to put oneself and your wingman-(men) in a position to dispatch the enemy as quickly and efficiently as possible while preventing the enemy from doing the same to you and your comrades. Cooperative tactics, mutual support and the opportunistic application of active tactical SA are vital to achieving this. The term "cherry picking" or killing an otherwise engaged bandit, is really, with two notable exceptions described below, simply the successful application of the core principles of air combat tactics. The two exceptions are:
1) When there is an isolated engagement between a single friend and foe where it is confirmed via direct communication or obvious intention that your friendly wishes to be left alone with the bandit.
2) When there are already sufficient friendlies engaged with the bandit(s) to dispatch him/them and they are in a viable position to do so. By, viable I mean, the friendlies have the E to force the engagement. Sometimes it's valid to be the "5th man in" if you are the only one with the E to force the bandit to turn thereby allowing his pursuers to successfully engage him if you fail to destroy him.
In all other situations you can conceive of cherry picking is really just one core aspect of good fightering tactics and their execution thereby furthering the overarching goal of dispatching the enemy as quickly and efficiently as possible. Anyone who whines about cherry picking in any situation other than the two aformentioned scenarios is clueless, in my personal opinion, demonstrating they deserved the express trip to the tower that they got.
