People don't fly it because it doesn't give them any sort of 'edge' against other planes. The plane has massive firepower, but you have to be able to hit with it, and the A8 just doesn't have the performance for an average pilot to be able to take advantage of its strong suits. There are some very good A8 pilots out there (NathBDP, for example), that know how to fight in it, but for most people the A8 is just to inferior performance-wise to compare with any of the more popular planes (SpitIX, La-7, P-51D, N1K2, Dora, G-10).
I actually enjoy flying the 190A8 also, but I go through phases where I fly one plane almost exclusively, and then fly a lot of planes a little while at a time. A smart 190A8 pilot can kill a Spit, P51, N1K2, or just about any other plane (the Yak and La-7 are exceptions in my opinion) if he starts with an altitude and/or speed advantage. The plane will turn quite well above 300 mph, and it zooms decently as well. If you stay above 300mph in it you will do alright, but if you get sucked into a turnfight and get below 200 you are dogmeat for just about anything else out there.
I posted a little thread about LW planes (in general), in the Training Forum. Some people contributed some very good tactics to use- if you are looking for some help in the plane head up that way.
