Is this the thread/basis for the increase in perk price?
I've probably taken the 163 up less than a dozen times. I'm rather unskilled with it, and at its price now will forever remain unskilled.
I really don't get the increase; it can only be used out of one base, it has a very short fuel duration, it is easy fodder for anyone with decent skills as a bomber gunner, if you catch one near the front lines it will be harassed all the way back to base and many will attempt to vulch it. Furthermore, the cannon trajectory is terrible. I certainly won't give anyone the opportunity to take ~90 perks away from me that I worked (yes, worked, in ~7 months I've been present for maybe a dozen Knight wins) hard for, often very hard. Not ranting about the lack of Knight wins, it is what it is, just pointing out some of us don't get 25 free ftr perks on a very regular basis.
Why spend resources modeling a plane that sits in the hangar for the majority of players? Time would be much better spent on planes like the J2M.