Unfortunately, I coud not fly Hostile Shores. I did Afrika Korps, flying for allies. Guess what, LW planes were formidable opponents, and there you knew the meaning of disengage at will.
Flying to live DOES make a difference, as well as a particular mission to accomplish.
The MA is a bad place to evaluate the pros and the cons with regards to real life usage, as it lacks LOTS of the elements of the real warfare.
If you are on a Pony, it is a totally different animal if you are looking for trouble in the MA, hi speed, hi alt cruising, or you are providing cover for a 20k alt buff formation. The first case allows the pony driver to disengage and fite comfortably a, say, 190 A-8 or A-5, even a Dora. The second one does not. If you put that in Real Life terms, were real lives were at risk, you get the point.
Even more, Pony vs. Dora, 1 vs 1 is one fight. Same plane set, 4 vs 4 introduces more variation that changing the planeset. What I think, is more important the tactical usage of the weapon, than the weapon itself. LW planes are wonderful when flying teamwise, and in its own terms. Historically, they usually could dictate them.
Cheers,
Pepe