Well y'know, different people play the game for different reasons. One reason isn't necessarily more valid than another. Personally, I avoid the HO because I might get shot down or collide. However if I'm flying something tough and with big guns, I'll accept one if someone else is foolish enough to initiate it. My own style is to fly like a real pilot would, which is to say saving my virtual bellybutton is priority one. I never auger my plane for a quick remount, never do a suicide mission, and I'll run, if I can, from someone who's got the drop on me. I once got bounced by two guys in 109s while I was in a Tempest. The first one HOed, lost, and then squeaked the whole time I dueled his partner. So y'know, next time, don't go there.