Certainly no offense to the OP here...
All the posts about the changes in radar, dar alt, NOE missions, hoarding, HO's, dweeb flying, alt-monkey's, furballing, bombers, dweeb planes, base-taking, strategy, tactics and cartoon pilot egomaniacs (forgive me if I forgot anyone)- therein lies the answer: It is dynamic, there is no one way to play AH.
IMHO, once you accept the dynamic and the fact that you will encounter all these types of gameplay/persona at anytime- the faster you can find a way to make it fun for you.