But it's not. I speak from 15+ years of experience in sims with nametags on. You soon learn that the only thing the nametag tells you is what to likely expect. In reality, all it does is cause ALL pilots to improve in skill, because they soon learn that they become predictable without the anonymity to hide behind.
While this is something that it allows, it isn't a negative experience. It causes all pilots to stop relying on a singular (or very small set of) "I win" moves and adapt, because they themselves are identified and learned quickly. It truly, and I mean this genuinely, causes competition and overall skill to skyrocket.
This point I'll grant you, I do tend to try a little harder if it's a known bandit. On the other side though, if it's someone I know I can beat because they always fall for move x, it gives me the info to make the right move for the right bandit, giving me a greater advantage over them than I might have by not knowing who I'm fighting. And when I speak of 'knowing' I mean absolutely, not having a pretty good idea that player x is operating in this area.
Thus far, you've been the only person to provide a remotely logical reason that this might not work - target prioritization. I applaud you for using reasoning to argue your point.
I urge you to consider the above points and logically think through it - I think you'll find truth in what I'm saying.
I've only been in online flight sims for 7 years(! has it been that long?) I started in WB's, they do bandit names. I personally prefer the way AH does it. Whether you recognize the bandit's name or not, you change what you're doing. When all you know is what plane the bandit is flying, you either treat everyone as a master until they prove differently, or you sometimes get lazy and it bites you if you don't give a bandit enough respect. That's part of gameplay.
It also makes the enemy force less fearsome if you can look at the fifteen bandits you're heading into and are able to go, "unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, decent stick, beast, beast, beast, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown". It effectively means of the fifteen, you only really have to watch 4 of them, and it seems less of a threat and less interesting.
You're assuming the best possible scenario for fostering a culture of mutual betterment and competition. I personally think a major downside would be witch hunting. As it stands now, it's relatively difficult to keep track of an enemy player if they don't want to be found. Constant feedback of where people are would result in some major hunting parties, I think. You say "well just report them then." I say, why build a system that makes that necessary when the current system makes it difficult enough that it rarely happens?
I don't need to know it's Willey to blow the wing off his perk farming mossie.
I do my perk farming in my D11, tyvm. The mossie experiments of late were fueled by curiosity.
Wiley.
