Correct. That is the flaw. Each time a plane ups from the ground should be tracked as a new sortie. It is not.
Because of this "feature" many abuse the rearm pad getting double digit kills in one "sortie" and the like.
Whatever personal issue you have with re-arm pads, it wasn't accidentally coded into the game and, as such, isn't an abuse no matter what you perceive. If you want to brag that you never use it, meh, ok. And you will never be forced to. You could just as easily brag that you never bother landing and auger once your fuel and or ammo is wasted ... I mean used up. Creating a religion, however ...