I am actually looking around all the time in fights on the deck. . . actually, other then trying to get a gun solution at the end of a maneuver I kep my eye on the con all the time. No need to see in front of you since you get a sense for what is happening.
Engine trails would add to the store of information I can gleen about a con - direction, G, E, pulling, how hard. . .all that. Oh, and bomber trails are because of alt. . .not G.