So why do you believe your reasons are better then my x,y,x when it appears you just wish to shrug my reasons off before even knowing what they are?
And why did I make it much simpler to change the FOV then in a previous version where no you can now change it while in flight? Did you now you can now change FOV in 2 different places?
I do not think my reasons are better than your x,y,z. I am telling you that when no player uses the default then maybe it is time to change the default. Yes, I know you implemented the ability to change FOV on the fly, that was a very good change as before it was hidden away in the start up screen. I also accept that people will change it to what they want at some stage and their preferences will be different. However, from talking to others through the years they are usually in the range of 100 to 106 for the majority of players. Changing the default to be in that range will do nothing for the existing players, they know how to adjust the setting. It will however, IMO, help your new players.
Many times I feel that players like yourself who no longer have the fun and excitement playing AH that they once did. That they really want that fun and excitement back.
They then blame me for their loss.
I don't blame you. I just don't agree with some of your choices. Some of those choices impacted the fun that I have in game and when it reached a tipping point I left. I still have passion for the game just not for the way it is played now. I accept that is driven by the players however as the creator you can, in turn, drive player behaviour through the implementation of game features. You can compress the fight into smaller areas through map creation, you can level the field through access or denial to planes, you can create choke points......you can do pretty much anything to influence gameplay.
You prefer the open sandbox and I respect that however such a large open sandbox with a population that cannot fill it creates a different mentality and gameplay than a sandbox crammed with players.
For me the game was always about WW2 fighter combat. The current iteration of the game coupled with player preferences for hit and run tactics are what makes it not fun for me. The issues have been talked about ad infinitum and I do not see anything changing but I will keep poking my head in to check.