I do.
You can't simply compare absolute numbers from 2 years ago to last tour, because total kill numbers for the tour are also much lower now.
If you want to check the statistical impact of a change, you have to look at the numbers just before and after that change, and some times after that because players often take some time to adjust.
You will then see that overall Il-2 usage took indeed a big hit - but it's far from "dead" now, particularly in it's original anti-tank role:
The top airbone killers of the Panzer IV:
(Image removed from quote.)
A reduction by 1/3rd, but still #2. Doesn't look dead to me.
All true, but norrowly focused. The IV is childs play to kill in a IL2, you dont even need the 37mms to punch thru parts of it. You could probably kill one with 0.50s. You can kill the thing from the side, the rear, the top, the front, and from any angle. Look at these armor thickness numbers. Lol, the thing is made out of aluminum foil.
Rear Turret: 20/0
Rear Upper Hull: 20/9
Rear Lower Hull: 20/10
Turret Top / Bottom: 10/83
Upper Hull Top / Bottom: 12/84
Lower Hull Top / Bottom: 10/90
Gun Mantlet: 35/0
Rear Turret: 30/10
Rear Upper Hull: 20/12
Rear Lower Hull: 20/9
Turret Top / Bottom: 10/83
Upper Hull Top / Bottom: 12/85
Lower Hull Top / Bottom: 10/90
Gun Mantlet: 50/0
The total numbers mean very little to me. I not only see far fewer in the air now but without even counting numbers just look at how many kills individuals are ringing up now. Guys who I remember killing quite a bit in it that are still in the game.
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/newscores/killsbyp.php?sortby=0&selectTour=LWTour138&pindex=50 compared to back when the IL2 still had F3
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/newscores/killsbyp.php?sortby=0&selectTour=LWTour114&pindex=50 There was much higher individual scoring.
Never get sloppy pitching to Lusche....he cranks weak-arse analysis out of the yard. He just went yard on ya rookie! Lol
Im glad you have a man hero to look up to, every boy should. But I assume campaign 135 was the last tour the IL2 had F3 cause thats the last tour it rang up any decent kills. And also BTW the last tour Lusche ever flew it in, "tho F3 had nothing to do with it Im sure." So in 135 the IL2 had about 13,000 k/d and one month later in 136 it had about 4,300 ? And since you never flew it again Lusche without F3 we can pretty much assume its "dead" to you.

I suspect by looking at current users its pretty much "dead" to all the score guys.
So while its not totally "dead", except to Lusche, we can pretty much call it gelded. Such is the fate for the most famous tank killing airplane in the war, and such is the hypocrosy of leaving other attack/bombers with bombbays and rear gunners to retain F3.