That is too bad people are calling foul when there clearly is none. It really ruins the integrety of a few of us who know a HO when we see one - and that ain't one.
A HO requires intent (hard to prove) but circumstantially there are several factors that show intent (the plane and how it moves is an expression of our intent). And I see several degrees of HO - the worst being the co-alt, co-e, un-loaded HO. . . thats a proper merge, and I think you should always take the merge and treat the situation as an honourable 1v1 unless there are a bunch of others around - but you get a few merges after that. . .
anyway, shame really.