I thoroughly enjoy the AvA but I tend to only go in there when the P38 is available. They have a tendency to go off on extended non US tangents and run 6 weeks of FinRUS and tank battles and I pretty much forget to check the setups in the AvA after a while.
I also enjoy the DA. Its an easy fight to find and the best place for a quick flying fix.
The MA's are the hardest place to find a fight. 300 people on average and difficulty finding a aerial battle. The terrains are too big with GV's and Ships competing for players attentions. Since GV's and Ships are here to stay the terrains need to shrink to condense the fight.
And those faulting the marketing attempt are absolutely correct.
I love the no icon AvA but I also enjoy the DA. Implying the AvA is somehow less mindless than anything else in this game was a poor marketing line.
There is only one good marketing line in any game.
Fun!
Everyone defines fun differently. Tell people how they can have fun in the AvA and you might get some results.
But I can tell you that 6 weeks of FinRus GV tank wars is not going to pull anybody out of the MA, DA, TA, or offline jeep driving practice.
Commit to popular airplane matchups and keep repeating them and make the esoteric rare. Oh...and post a schedule on the calendar.