They like that alt.... nothing historic or anything. They just like the challenge of conserving fuel.
Actually, you're not that far off. We try to take the minimum amount of fuel possible. It is more of a challenge. The other challenge is getting 20-30 buff drivers (all from different squadrons) to that altitude in something that resembles a formation. That's alot harder then it sounds (think herding cats sometimes).
Every single time we up these runs, I always hear someone say "This is the highest I've ever been". If these runs weren't fun, didn't pose any challenge whatsoever, we wouldn't have LCA join us. We wouldn't have the Claim Jumpers, the Death Dealers, the Sky Knights, or the Gamblers winging up with us. We've always invited the new players in, it's a great way for them to learn.
For me it's like long range shooting. I've hit a quarter grouping at 600 yards. It took me an hour to do that. I only fired 3 shots. To spend so much time in preparation for one single moment, and succeed, that makes it worth it. Laugh all you want Masher, but I'm still going to climb out, and yes, like Flayed said, I'm going to point and laugh.