It makes me giggle to hear buffers try to make themselves relevant
But you see...as the game is set up, buffs are the MOST relevant to moving the map, if one actually gives a crap about that
Fighter to fighter kills are semi-irrelevant because there is no attrition of planes and pilots. Jabos are semi-irrelevant because a flight of buffs can do the same job better, because the only fighter-bomber that can take out a hanger single-handed is the Jug and buffs can get to altitude and then the target almost as fast as the heavy 47.
Escort is almost irrelevant because the way the speed of buffs and the guns are set up, they can defend themselves without escorts.
Intercept is almost irrelevant because even if someone wants to climb to alts above normal AHII fighter and sit there for buffs, to quite possibly waste 30-40 minutes of their playing time for nothing, they still stand as good a chance of getting their oil shot out before they can stop all 3 buffs from arriving on target as not. Much easier to go into a furball and shoot down 3 fighters.