I must say, the more I use it the more fun it is becoming. It can be quite an amazing performer. The only down side I see is every hordling goes waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of there way to try and pik it, to the extent of flying thru multiple possible tagets just to try and HO or pik that barn door your flying!! Always good for some laughs 
Anyway I was getting quite bored with the game, now the fun has returned just a bit 
Oh! any of you hard core 38 pilots use independent throttle control, and if so does it help much ?
Other people have already said this, but I'll restate it for emphasis.
Independent throttle is not really worth the hassle while you're in the fight. Once you're out of the fight, though, whether it's due to damage or lack of targets, it can be a great help. It can help you manage fuel, manuever on the runway, etc.
When it becomes really advantageous to have, as Del already said, is when you lose a wing to damage. If you completely throttle back the engine opposite of the wing you lost (if you lose the right wing, cut the left engine), it can help you get home. It won't work every time, but it works often enough to be worth the trouble of having it mapped. You should also be dropping flaps and giving opposite rudder when you lose a wing.
Have fun flying with a giant "shoot me" sign as your icon!
