Actually it is a game of cartoon arial combat. The other items were added for those that do not like arial combat.
Caps are not designed to stop hording. Eny is the closest to leveling the field when a hord builds.
I think it’s your interpretation that the game is about “cartoon arial combat”, however HiTech Creations describes it in different terms and it appears that the ground games was always part of their thinking.
According to HiTech the game is about capturing Territory.
HiTech Creations Web Site,
Help Menu Index -> Playing the Game
“Capturing territory through the use of air, land and sea power is the objective in Aces High. The arena terrain is divided into three countries (Bishop, Knight, and Rook), with each country starting with an equal number of fields, towns, cities, task groups, and a single headquarters for each country. All countries have an equal amount of territory at the beginning of a war. “