I'll offer some feedback on this, as a part-time and very definitely non-elite cartoon pilot:
Sometimes, the match is so asymmetrical that the only thing you CAN do is log - or stay on and watch your ratio get pounded down.
I remember once when I was just starting out, I kept running into Gumpsta, and he shot me down about 5 times in a row - and without much fuss. I logged, but only after vowing revenge.
Since then, I've learned a lot and found that, at least when I'm flying well, I'm much less likely, given that I have retained a lot of information about relative strengths (on the lines of, KI-84! Quick, what advantages does g-14 have relative to it) and weaknesses, to get stomped on as frequently. That said, there are still bad days. For example, ACB - a guy who's been around forever, schooled me in a series of happenstance 1:1s recently, even beating me in a Spit XVI with a g-14 ( I know what I did wrong). Or, also recently, the anti-horde boys, especially when they're together, usually hang my scalp, often more than once. However, even with those guys, there is a chance at redemption. I've managed at least one kill on several of them - including one on their most notorious members, albeit via a lucky crossing shot. Those guys spend so much time in-game, it's nothing to them.
But, that's the challenge. I actually like the way acb handled it via mute combat, showing me where I was screwing up in each instance: SPit XVI vs G-14 (me)Spit XVI vs K-4 (me), G-14 vs Spit XVI (me). He killed me each time, then fired off a salute. Each combat was instructive. I actually considered the possibility he might be cheating... but, in retrospect, seriously doubt it. I mean, in the last combat, I'm certain my speed in the XVI was way off corner.
Ultimately, adulthood is about being able to take the abuse... Why? To get to the good stuff..? Maybe. Or maybe it's just to take more abuse.
But, if you love air combat, it's worth it. I still remember the first time I successfully executed a rolling scissor in a d-9 and flew my opponent, who was in a Jug, into the ground. Priceless.