Interesting comparisons there Easymo.
Trim....... real aircraft trim..... simply lessens unnecessary workload on the pilot.
For example, you trim for level flight in cruise so that the aircraft will basically stay where it is without constantly minding the stick. This allows you to change radio frequencies, look at a chart, etc. It just eliminates some of the routine workload, allowing you to do something else.
Auto takeoff on the F4U? Same purpose. Who amongst us (that has a few weeks experience) has any difficulty whatsoever in taking off in an AH aircraft? Auto takeoff eliminates some of the routine workload... so we can hit the head, grab another beer or call and order a pizza. Just like trim in a real aircraft, eh? Doesn't affect the FM in the least.
Combat Trim in a P-51? There'd be absolutely no need for Combat Trim in AH if the importance of trim itself hadn't been overemphasized in the intial programming. Trim was made WAY too important and WAY to effective. CT merely was an attempt to ameliorate that situation. So, in this case, CT is a device used to correct a non-routine workload that really shouldn't be there anyway.
But incorrectly and/or deliberately programming trim to act as a primary flight control? Flight model flaw, IMO. Relatively serious one as well. Similar to giving any flight control too much effect. Incorrect in any Flight Simulation, whichever one does it.
Now to perhaps the crux of your post. Fun.
You find the need to use trim in a manner that trim was really not designed to be used "fun".
I'd say it's simply an artificial "difficulty level" setting. Now you may find it more "fun" to artificially set the "difficulty level" higher and I would never argue your opinion there.
To me, it falls into the same category as having the projectiles from the guns artificially disappear from the programming at anything over 250 yards. It would be more difficult, because you'd always have to be in close. Some would undoubtedly find it more "fun" as well. But as an attempt to simulate WW2 gun ballistics it would simply be an error.
Auto take off? A minor compromise. Don't like it? Simple, don't use it. Because using it or not using it really doesn't provide an advantage to a player.
CT? An attempt to correct an flaw in the FM. Don't like it? Don't use it. In this case NOT USING it enhances a player's ability to dogfight
if it is used correctly and competently while USING CT actually slightly hampers a player's ability to dogfight. Big difference here between this and auto takeoff. Using trim ahistorically and contary to its true design function actually provides an
advantage.
More fun to have an FM feature that is ahistoric and contrary to its original design function? That would be an opinion.
More realistic to have it that way? Absolutely not and that's not opinon.
