Should I be disappointed?

[Shuffler]

Compared to an La-7 or P-51D, its slow.  None of those other aircraft you listed are barn-burners at sea level.

I burned a barn by augering into it in a 38L.  

[CAP1]

ENY doesn't really mean awhole lot folks. 

all it means to me, is that sometimes i can't get my 38j.....so i take out the 38g. 

[BnZs]

Compared to an La-7 or P-51D, its slow.  None of those other aircraft you listed are barn-burners at sea level.

They are in the middle of the pack for speed where MA fighting actually happens. SpitXVI is not "slow", it is a medium-speed aircraft that is stellar by every other measure.

[boomerlu]

Some planes with low ENY numbers aren't superduper.

Some planes with high ENY numbers are monsters.

P-51D vs 109 K-4 for example.

Yup, if I fight a co-E 51D in my K4, it's usually a foregone conclusion. A WEP K4 is also faster than a WEP Pony at all altitudes. It also climbs better. And turns better. And accelerates better.

But: Pony retains E better, has better high speed handling, and has much better visibility.

That said, I can typically use Pony's E retention against it, just do a throttle off spiral dive and he will overshoot you, at which point you can throttle up and regain your lost E while in the saddle.