First rule of AH, its your dime, its your time, there is no wrong plane. There is really only one wrong tactic, and thats to HO and go on the initial merge. (the only true HO IMO)
Everything else depends on situation and how you choose to play.
But if you decline a 1 on 1, even if your at a slight disadvantage, your not a good pilot.
If your really want to be a GOOD pilot, try flying with even a modicum of honor and integrety, and in other than the top 5 planes.
I'd agree with most everything Ghost said except for the points I quoted.
One of the major problems with Aces High is this silly "Cold Merge" concept. It is a training tool only or maybe some kinda of goofy dueling rule. Trying to make it some sort "right or wrong" issue is the root of much silliness on this board. I've been flying online for quite a long time and have seen every HO argument there possibly is.
It boils down to one simple fact.
If you cannot avoid a front quarter high aspect guns pass there is a big hole in your skill set or mindset or both. It is exceedingly simple to avoid the "HO" attempt and turn it to an angles advantage. I would never consider teaching anyone to "cold merge". It only sets them up for failure. And the end result is lots of silliness on this board. Learn to avoid the front quarter aspect shots. Learn to turn them to your advantage. I used to invite students to grab a 190 and try to kill me using the "Head on". That usually got them interested in how I managed to avoid their shots and end up offensive.
Next item. Declining 1 v 1 = not a good pilot. I guess I suck because I decline 1 v 1 opportunities all the time. From advantage, neutral, or disadvantage. For many different reasons. A few examples. Hurricanes and Zeroes. I won't even bother. In my P38 it is not exceptionally hard to win the fight. In fact, the fight is so predictable, its rather dull. I don't have the inclination to engage in yet another boom and zoom on someone who thinks yanking on the pole is the only way to fight. Conversely, I'll blow 42,000 feet of altitude to kill a pony. I enjoy the heck out of killing ponies (If I can catch them). If I see a jet I'll point my six at him, proceed to the nearest base, land, logoff and go do something else. Jets are the ultimately in buzz killers in game for me. Mind numbingly dull to fight but they can hang around out of guns range forever if they have the merest amount of skill. People have different interests. And even though mine is getting into a good fight, i really have little interest in fighting certain aircraft in certain situations. It is just boring.
And last....honor and integrity. Beside the glaringly obvious fact that this is a game let us discuss definitions.
Honor is honesty to one's own beliefs. Notice....one's own beliefs not beliefs imposed on him by others. Cultures of Honor flourish where there is no rule of law. They have faded from much of the West. Totally misapplied here. I can be completely honorable within the framework of my squadron yet break many of the "laws" imposed by the gameplay police. Honor only applies to the belief system engaged. Honor in this game applies to each little "gang" not the entire community because there is no unified belief system in game.
Integrity is consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcome. A man with integrity necessarily is honorable within the context of his belief system.
If I am a member of a criminal gang that has set forth a system of beliefs, no matter how vile it may seem to the outside world, and I hold true to that system of beliefs I have integrity within that group and consequently I have honor. To an outsider I may seem the be the complete opposite but Honor and integrity do not apply outside of my particular belief system. And this is why we have the Rule of Law and not the Rule of Honor.