Just found this thread and area of KOTH discussion, and I guess I'll jump in to offer my opinion.
I try to make the game as real as I can to 'simulate' real flying, which I have no idea what it is really like being a non-pilot.
Therefore I do not cut my engine but chop the throttle to decellerate or prevent too much speed. The only time I ever had to turn my engine off, and I did at times, was when my throttle was acting up and going full throttle with no input from me. I also only did this while landing because it's kind of tough to land with full throttle.
Rules are rules, though and I can see why we have them and for good reason [ ducks to avoid thrown objects ].
Do you try to get 6 cards when playing 5 card stud?
[ 'you' used generally and not at anyone specific ]
I can see HTC doing something to slow down the starting sequence though to 'simulate' real planes.
Oops, I forgot, I also restart my engine in mid-flight, and possibly fight, when I have forgotten to switch fuel tanks to auto and inadvertantly run dry of gas. Hmm, now that I think about it, I recall running dry on one tank, going 'Oops' and switching tanks and have the engine magically restart withOUT hitting anything.
Now I'm even confuzing myself, which isn't too hard to do, by the way.
I was only going to give my 2 cents but I think I rambled and now I'm 4 cents short.
fuzeman