There's a plethora of reasons why big/small maps are viewed by folks as either good or bad.
Everybody's got their own idea of what's "fun" and what's "not fun".
I will say that given that there's no real operational or strategic component to AH
beyond the simplistic "strats" system in use that there's no "incentives" which might be
used even on "large" maps to channel action to specific area(s) of a map in play.
It is what it is and folks will either like it and play it, or they won't. I think the
continued decline of the player base speaks volumes.
Perhaps AH3 will offer something different while maintaining its "spirit" as a flight sim
game. Therein lies the challenge.
The maps we currently use are incredibly complex, and my guess is that several hundred hours
of work was put into 'em. My -perception- is that they never change. They are put into use
"as is" and are never tinkered with regardless of how they work/don't work. A prime example
is one we use which still features GV spawns to "nowhere"; nowhere being where "strats" once
resided years ago. Yet, they remain.
I'm neither an HTC basher, nor apologist. I don't have a "side" in this or any other Aces High
issue. I'm just a regular slob looking for something to justify my continued expenditure of 15 bucks
a month on a game I currently find rather lackluster. It is only the social interaction within AH
and my squadmates who keep me as a subscriber.
Flame away,
Odd