HQ is set far enough back that it can be defended,
On Fester, this is very difficult against a skilled HQ raider unless you keep a cap over it. A NOE raider is almost invisible until too late, and even a raider at altitude can easily hide in the radar noise of the frontlines due to the map layout. Once you would
know there's a HQ raider it's very difficult to get him in time, even if you are in tower & ready, thanks to the distant airbases.
I don't log because HQ is down, that's ridiculous. Listen to teammates, watch the logs, you can find where stuff is happening. It's perfectly accurate for a combat game.
That works to some extend at US prime times. During my main playing hours there are harldy battles at all. Air cons are mostly single sets of buffs or the odd Jabo here and there.
Also HQ downtimes are greatly often extended here, as you can basically forget any resupply effort with so few players online.
When I log in and there is neither any darbar nor any actuall battle to be found I log off immediately . My time is a limited commodity these days. I'm not going to fly goons for an hour anymore.