The assumption that HTC has to make money or even thinks they are going to make money in the first few months is wrong. The point is, they have to start charging.
I think this is a good tactic. #1, cash starts coming in, and #2 people have to make a decision.
So, for example, if I'm a AW player - I'm not going to keep both accounts, I'm going to decide on one. What does this mean? Well if my squad starts moving over to AH, more likely than not - the whole squad will get a subsciption. More likely than not, a friend visiting my house and seeing me playing AH and not AW or WB will say "that's a cool game, what is it?"
The point I'm making is that I think that AH finally charging will actually help to get the ball rolling in building the community.
As far as plane sets not being as high as the competition, well judging by the speed they are pumping these planes out, that will be a non issue very soon.
Personally, I can afford to play all of them - but I tell you what, if I was running the $200.00/ month bills that I used to in WB, I would switch instantly to AH - it's just simply better value. The fidelity of the FM's are such that it wouldn't be a deciding factor in choosing either of the simms.
What AH really has to work on to really get ahead of WB is offering historical terrains, terrain editor, and events. I'm sure this isn't a new revelation to them