I don't know if any of you play RTS games, but the counter-attack is probably one of the most potent maneuvers you can do in those games, and I think it carries over in the same way to AH.
Y'know, I'd never put it in as many words in my head but you're dead on. It can be looked at like an RTS, except for the fact that the unit AI is somewhat unreliable and unpredictable.
As for it not being war, why is it a lot of the 'it's just a game' crowd use this as one of their main talking points, yet get bent out of shape when someone HO's/picks/vulches? It's just a game, a HO costs you nothing, you get a bright shiny plane to up again immediately. Why not do it? If you're flying a bomber, why not bail after all your bombs have been dropped, it's just a game right? In fact, why even bother to RTB ever? Fly and kill til you're out of fuel and ammo, then auger. There's no reason not to right? It's just a game.
Nobody can expect everybody's goals ingame to be the same as theirs. You've got everything from what I've described above, to people who do absolutely everything in their power to survive to RTB. If it's possible in game, people do it. The variety of styles results in unpredictable battles, which makes it a lot more fun than if everybody played one way. Embrace diversity, people. C'mon, who's up for a round of kum-ba-ya?
Wiley.
