When I used to be a Trainer, I told my students to take any shot provided the enemy cannot return fire. While I used to be a purist, I accept that the possibility of a head on pass needs to be there to prevent lead turns from occurring so early that it is performed in front of the enemy aircraft.
The same individuals (other than new players) that rely on the HO pass are the cannon equipped ENY5 veterans. If you want to play like this, go ahead, but you won't be stroking any ego other than your own. As Frank Leahy once said, "Ego is the anesthesia that dulls the pain of stupidity."