Hundreds of people flying at the same time much on IL-2?
Context.
wrongway
Actually, you don't meet hundreds of people in AH neither. How often do you see "hundreds" of planes within your 6.0k visible range? Probably around 50~60 planes max provided there's a hefty furball formed... and even in those cases the most friendlies/enemies you'd have within 3.0k where details start to show, would be not more than 20~30. Besides, the detail depiction range can always be altered as an option. Some may be able to see it only when up really close, others might want to crank the detail level up and see such details from further distances.
The thing is, by today's standards, depicting stuff like glows, waters, distortion and etc etc.. ain't exactly state-of-the-art gfx tech. It's quite amazing how fast the industry advances... just a few years ago, seeing water that looks like water was quite amazing in Silent Hunter3... nowadays, even MMORPG games have kewl looking reflective water...