Is it really the the best flight model in AH that is the selling point for a player to chose this one over something else?
It is for me.
Would a new player looking for a game with planes really choose AH due to the flight model? When others have more instantaneous action or more detailed systems simulation?
It depends. Is the player looking for an arcade game or a flight simulator? If the player is looking for an arcade game, with instantaneous action, the player has lots of choices. If the player is looking for game built on a real flight simulator, he chooses Aces High.
It's about flying the airplanes. I like to tell people that Aces High is like playing tag or capture the flag, but with airplanes. Real airplanes. Aces High is not just a game, it's a celebration of aviation.