there will always be some visual proof of bullet strikes.
Does this visual proof look like the hit sprites we currently have? The evidence provided from actual gun camera footage from American, British and German aircraft does tend to show small explosive flashes, puffs of smoke and small bits of debris being thrown from the aircraft, so with that in mind I think our current non optional hit effects are satisfactory.
You know I think having an option to turn off hit sprites is vaguely interesting. Would we also have an option to turn off debris? What about optional smoke? why would we want this? why wouldn't we?
I don't know. Before reading this thread I had never thought about this possibility. I think after I have navigated away from this thread I will never think about it again.
But it is always good to consider new things.