The H2H free servers was my intro to ace highs about 12 years ago now and it was a great thing as i could learn the curve from helpful people back then like ARTLAWS, after a few months i felt like i had a skill level where I could have fun with in the MA. The cost looking at all other options would have to make free H2H servers like aces used to have the best bang for the bucks as its all in-house and pretty much free for HT.
It would also have more players at 16 max than MA in Aussie time as that would be about the same numbers as we play on our time in AU NZ, also smaller maps, less world of tank type action in small arenas.
The big draw would be to get new blood into the game and also have a smaller map for player that also pay but cant find any action. The saving grace of HT has been things like FSO without that the numbers would be half again. i love FSO and its the only reason i still have an account even though i have to play with some TOOLS its OK as they cant banter on crap on open channel in FSO

It could also make a lot of people that haven't played in years come back and play again then open a account up after the fun and upgrades or it could do the opposite and make paying players drop paid accounts in favor of free servers? but at the moment the life span of aces high is about 1 year before its near empty so it cant hurt to try something.
Or do a world of tanks thing that seems to work, make the game free and make people pay for upgrades, it seems to work for that game well and seeing some people on aces that will do just about anything and go to any length for a few stars next to their name i imagine some players would near fund 100 accounts for the need to kick everyones bellybutton with advatage. Also make it so everyone has to work up to better plans as this would also increase the skill and time people will spend on to get the next plane/tank etc.
Or like some suggested a referral program maybe as its cheap to setup and really doesn't cost anything to do once players use it and sign up, or make the loud mouth tools pay double and give us nice Aussies/ kiwi's a free game because we are nice and not toolie.

<S>