Ack hugging is a viable solution when other planes/vehicles have a superior position like alt, speed, surprise, hidey-hole, numbers, etc.  Nothing wrong with it whatsoever.  If I had a guarantee that a con or cons would allow me to lift and get co-alt and co-E I would never hug ack.  Anybody receive this guarantee yet?  I have only once been offered this option in almost three years of AH play time, and it was honored.