In the "hayday" of 600 players (even +200) you are correct that AH was the place to be. Unfortunately, that has not existed for a long time, for a variety of reasons. When the numbers in AH are low there really isn't much to do, so AH and your sim gear sits idle.
Where DCS and IL2 endure is a decent A/I that allows for PvE and single player. With combat flight sims being a niche, the more you have to rely on participation of others the less "bang for the buck" you are going to get. You only need a couple players with PvE to have fun and the comradery. If you only prefer going against humans then both DCS and IL2 have smaller maps and therefore you only need about 30 players, which is not hard to find at all.
When I could carve out some time to play AH my routine was to log in and see if there were enough players with a decent dar bar indicating a good fight. Those instances became fewer and fewer, which resulted in logging off and finding something else to do. With DCS/IL2 I can check for the same things and, if it is not available, I still have a wealth of single player missions available in whatever aircraft I feel like flying. In short when I feel like I want to fly combat it is available 24/7.
With WWII aircraft, the graphic detail becomes much more relevant. Not long ago I was flying a pony mission in DCS and lit up a 190 at point blank range. Quite something to SEE the 190 canopy fly off and the pilot animatedly climb out of the aircraft to bail out. Detailed ground terrain and ground units, along with good smoke/fire affects, increase the immersion and that is why we are all playing.
Bottom line is playtime is one of the most precious human commodities and everyone has to choose what gives them the most satisfaction. Don't let any one game make you hang up you flight gear without checking out the others.
I'm not saying you don't have some valid points, I'm not directing all of this to you... but I will say what I've always said since Janes, WB, etc... if it's not fun, graphics don't matter. Ask almost any former long term AW player. In this and AW,... MP is what made both stand out. The MP concept kept AH and AW alive well past their time. And my point is hard to challenge without omitting the basics.
I've checked out Both IL-2 and DCS. In videos the way planes fly inIL-2...I'm not sure that's even a true FM. If more than 40% of a game is script drone missions,... my interest is instantly GONE. Not even a second thought.
DCS, it's very very nice, they haven't decided in one single FM, they have several. If more than 40% of a game is script drone missions,... my interest is instantly GONE. Not even a second thought. AI IS arcade
Many would have to buy a new PC too,..and you haven't even gotten into the money pit of flying planes, which is THE most omitted point in the sales pitches. Some refer to this in terms of swindle. $70 for one plane, or 4.6 months of 120 AC, boats and vehicles,... whose graphics are NOT substandard. And the FM is solid.
yes,... we can at a glance say they look real good,.... until you dig into them. If that wasn't true..... we would not have people trying to selling it in every conversation like an meth addiction. That's a Tell all by itself.
If that's what blows some skirts up,... kewl, be with it, go there, ...
But if some are expecting a mass migration to fill a boring game,..they are not listening,..it's NOT gaining any ground here. If that was going to happen,...it would have already. It's now just cringe worthy to those of us who repeat ourselves endlessly to the endless sales attempt, we like the game play here. The main point that is always INTENTIONALLY left out to a crowd that has already well established,.. THIS is their home. Get off the lawn with the signs. If I wanted AI,.. I'd go back to Half-Life. Ya can't be any more arcade than AI. <shug>
Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
if they are that great,.. WHY in the hell do they spend more time here, than there? Quite frankly,... they can't wait for AH to die, the sooner the better... the C movie acting is like glass. The body language screams BS.
i'm sure will all see DCS in the next 48 hrs. When someone can be 90% predicted, ya got them nailed.
<shrug>
Peace
