Ripsnort,
It is gamey because in most WWII fighters it would be awkward, if not impossible, to drop gear during a dogfight. For example, an F4F required over 20 cranks to drop the gear, and again to retract them. In planes with powered landing gear mechanisms, a smart pilot would not want to drop the gear for fear that the mechanism would fail while the gear was down, leaving him a helpless target. Plus the fact that most gear could not be safely lowered below 175mph. If you are already below 175mph, it doesn't take much to bleed off your remaining energy, just pull 4 g's.
I have never read of a WWII fight were a pilot used his gear to bleed speed, though I imagine it must have happened.
ra