I think the source of a lot of the friction is two of the many player philosophies that really rub wrong against each other. The guys that want Marquis of Queensbury honorable awesome duels and want their enemies to abide by their self-imposed restrictions vs people that see it as side vs side, actually trying to kill the other side, and expect them to do the same.
And ne'er the twain shall meet.
It's a silly, self-centered way of looking at the game. And the level of hypocrisy it requires for them to claim moral superiority is both hilarious and infuriating in equal measure.
Wiley.
Wiley, I edited you comment to focus on one thing. And let me say that I don't want to appear to be talking down to you. I don't know you, but I believe this forum exists for the exchange of ideas. it's better when that happens courteously and without vitriol.
Having said that, I think there is room in just about any flight sim that I'm aware of for both types of players. I've been a part of dogfights where neither player had a clear advantage and one just runs out of ammo. They break off and rtb while posting 'bingo ammo' (or something similar) in the radio buffer. I tend to let them go in that situation, but I've seen people run them down, if they can, and kill them.
I've also maintained that flight sims, pick you platform, are great places to hunt and kill other people, but that there's no room for whining or complaining. So, if I'm trooping a field and someone from the 'enemy' decides to shoot down my C37
after I've dropped my troops, that's up to them. I just don't let the behavior of others dictate how I behave. That way lies madness.
Whenever I'm shot down, I always try to salute the person who got me. I will say that the options for doing that in AH leave me confused. I don't know whether to key the radio buffer to 'all' or to 'room.'
The ultimate truth is that 'a kill is a kill,' and points scored are points earned. I'm just not a points player. So, good luck flying and good hunting. And if you shoot me down and don't get a salute, I'm still working on it.