Icons and spotting are below par in both dcs and il2 compared to ah gameplay IMO
I agree that post-WWII is DCS's best payoff. Not everything has radar though like the Huey.
If you have icons on in DCS, I haven't noticed any real difference compared to AH. They have different levels. I like the one that simply places a little colored line by them just enough to help you pick them out of the clutter. Not enough to blot out your view when there are several grouped together.
In all games, what I'd like to see is an intermittent icon switch button. I'd like them to be off by default for emersion, and if I hold down a button have them show at a desired level and then vanish again if I let go of the button. I feel that would a good compromise between realism and practical limits of resolution. Off unless I need a little help for a second or two, then off again.
As I said, my only real interest at the moment is helo, and I find that attacking ground targets and road convoys at 100ft agl that icon are not that needed unless I'm attacking infantry.