if it were significantly faster then some of the unperked rides - then it makes sense to keep it perked - but it is not faster. When you punch it the numbers into Gonzo, the fighter comparison, you find out that the K4 and LA7 are faster, the k4 climbs better (with longer wep too), the LA7 out turns it by a fair bit (and remains stable in a tight turn while the spit14 becomes really uncontrollable), the La7 out accelerates it, and out guns it.
LA7 is better then the spit in almost every way except sheer climb. And if people feel the hispanos are nice, then i would contend that the cowl mounted 3xcannon of the LA7 is still superior even if it is not effective at 800 (like shots at those distances are not desperation <please break> shots anyway).
Add to that the god awful fuel consumption even when throttled down. . .(I can get a K4 to go very very far, the LA7 less so but very far, the spit 14. . .nowhere near as far even with the slipper).
to me it feels like a good 5 eny plane, and not worth the perk risk at all - if I wanted to spend perks on a prop plane, the U4 (truly the best prop plane in the game) or the tempest (unmatched speed and firepower) are truly deserving of a perk. . .the spit 14, no way.
And yes, the K4 eny is too high - i think most of us would agree with that.
With the dora, the 14 out climbs, out turns and out accelerates it - but the dora has much more docile handling, 10mins of wep, retains e better, and bucket full of ammo. . .
comparisons aside, a spit 14 just adds another plane into the top speed demon matrix (51, dora, la7, k4) and gives another choice to those runner types. Will it dominate? Yes. More then the La7 or 51? No.
Add to that the really flat spinny, uncontrollable characteristics (a cornered or hard fighting 14 is just as likely to auger as be shot down) of the package and after the initial high use, it will become like the 152. . .and people will go back to the superior 16 like they did the dora - because it is a better plane unless you use it as a bnz/e fighter exclusively.
To put it another way, when I pass a spit on the merge and i see 'spit14' I don't really fear it. . .when I see spit16, I am much more guarded because that 16 can turn right around and smack you (and give you little or no time to regain/build e) whereas the 14 will either go up (giving me time), or keep going (again giving me time).
in the end, I just don't see how the 14 is perked, while the LA7 (the dora and k4 have drawbacks <turn/acceleration and the tater respectively>) is not. Or the 51D that can carry 2k ords and after it drops it magically transforms into a speed demon dog fighter either for that matter. It makes no sense to me. And in a close, low e dogfight, I would rather be in a 51 then a 14 in most cases since with good flap work I can work the 51 around while the spit14 pilot is fighting the plane.
