Yarbles,
I have flown with and against LD, most enjoyable fights were in the Axis versus Allies arena. I have a film that I just viewed last night where it was evident that they had been getting the better of me and my wingmen. I was not so generous in my comments to them or my comments to my wingmen about our engaging them at superior altitude this time. End of story, we still got crunched.
They are indisputably a tight squad. I watched a film from SDL that shows just how tight. The Few also, impress me as a squad that knows how to cover each other well. I think the key phrase here is that they cover each other well.
The part about them disengaging, is uncharacteristic of what I have observed during a battle. I do believe that you have had a different experience, I am just not buying that this is their only style. My squad will disengage for a number of reasons, PW'd member with large number of scalps, RTB, low fuel status RTB, AFK flight lead, etc......
At any rate, I would say that I find that some pilots are trained to do what you described, as a matter of survival. I see it all the time in the MA. I agree it is very frustrating when flying aircraft that have no chance or fuel to chase.
The bottom line is that LD have earned my respect for applying tactics and getting successful results. I think that we all could benefit from the core of what they do, rather than expect them to change the way they choose to disengage.
(Respectfully, I did not read the opinion thoroughly or read any other posts in this thread, so Yarbles, you are still one of the tops in my book also.)