What bugs me more is the "race to the ground" - you're fighting multiple enemies, you blow one's wing or tail off, but you get no credit for the kill because his friend kills you before the dead guy finishes fluttering and spinning to the ground. (this also happens with HOs and collisions, but if you're HOing and colliding with the enemy you can't really complain about the consequences.)
But any game is going to have ways to game it - as was pointed out, the problem that the "critical damage" functionality was brought in to solve (i.e. six people blazing away at wingless planes hoping to do enough damage to get the kill) was much worse.
And seriously, if you're vulching an enemy field and your victim manages to tower out, you've got no basis to complain. And if he re-ups and you get killed by ack trying to strafe him before his wheels are off the ground, you've really got no basis to complain.