Thats why I always mostly liked the fighter scoring in AH and dont really take the other ranks seriously. In fighters you still have to get the kills but its not about how much time you get to play, but about strategy in having the best balance. I also hate dying. However I realize that dying once in a while, if I have a few kills will increase my K/H and that gives me more score points than losing the K/D. A player can try to game it with 2 or 4 sorties but are bound by the points. Back in the day, it was sometimes very hard to get top ranked because not only were players busting out amazing stats, they played a lot so had many points as well. With less players, its easier to rank higher, but being #1 still takes some measures. That being said, when I see some of these guys in Temps, 262s, and 163s, to pad their fighter scores, I do have to roll my eyes because obviously its easier to get more kills in the easiest fastest best cannon shooters in the game that can run from anything. I love that the ranks start over every month. It gives everyone a chance at a clean slate. Only wish was an ENY counter to limit the easy mode planes and add a tougher dynamic so that players cant iust get #1 by flying the easy moders. A lot of players hide behind attack rank but you can usually tell which planes they chose because some of them are fighter only.
I wish more airncombat games had similar scoring to AH. Most metrics just end once the server changes. While most dont take it seriously and thats okay. Its still a good measure to see what players are capable of achieving in the current gameplay.