As a classically trained statistician their are problems with using statistics to determine eny values. Some of those problems are data that has no meaning because we cannot determine an apples to apples comparison value, i.e. Pilot skills as it relates to usage, data issues based on a/c usage, i.e. Do we use the same measurement for a 110G-2 as we do for a Yak-9? One carries a boatload of ords, the other none. An extension of that is how k/d relates to how the deaths occurred. Do a lot of 110 kills come via Wirbelwind compared to Yak9... yes I'd reckon they do. Sample size is also a problem on its own- see last paragraph.
All of those issues have been touched on in certain ways by others here.
It is possible that there is another problem. Unless it adds bails and crashes into the deaths tally, it is missing a lot of "deaths". I feel that this would become statistically even more relevant the more an aircraft is used. This is arguably because new guys are going to log on and fly the Spit, Pony,and maybe the 109 because they have heard of those. What new guy is going to log on and up a Yak, La, C2, KI, etc? So they die again and again, many of them crashes and bails.
I like the intent of this discussion because I feel the eny system is "off". Several months ago I assembled a spreadsheet that lists most of the fighters in the game are rates them one 10 different statistical components. The data is from the docgonzo tests and does not include the P39s or the 262 and 163.
The data is then translated into z-scores which serve to make apples to oranges comparisons into legitimate apples to apples comparisons called Standard Scores. The ten data fields are: Speed ASL, <10k, >10k, Climb rates ASL, <10k, >10k, Turn radius with and without flaps, 200-300 mph acceleration, and lethality. Then those figures are added and averaged to give each aircraft a single overall score.
Using Z-scores, 0.0 is absolute mediocrity. It is also a bell curve so the further you go from zero the greater the score difference is. For example a score of .1 is not much better than 0.0, but a score of 1.1 is actually better than an increase of .1 of a point. A better way to rank them is by percentage. The sheet also does customized rankings.
Bored to tears yet?
Anax, if you are interested in seeing this and bouncing statistical ideas off me, pm me with an email addy and I will send you the sheet and instructions on how to use it. I applaud your efforts and encourage you to continue to work at it and am more than happy to help you with the statistical side of it. (as applies to rules and laws)
While I was typing this, Lusche posted another truism. The data is also thrown out by lack of popularity where a certain player(s) can skew the data.