Whoever started this thread...I'm too lazy to look...it'll never happen.
The MA has become, and will continue to become more of a Quake style game, than a WWII Combat Flight sim.(not sure which is was designed to be, anyway)
Nothing wrong with that. It seems to be what the masses want.
Read some recent and not so recent threads about making fields purely for furballs.
Look at some of the most successful games out there. Many are instant action style first person shooters. Thats where the money is, and that's what you need to market to make a buck.
Personally, I've always said I enjoy a challenge. I would prefer to earn somthing that to just have it available to me.
Ultima Online is a good example. You start out naked, no armor, no weapons, and a rabbit...(Literally) can kick your prettythang.
You work. You go through toil. You do mindless things that are more like real work than a game. You earn your place. You earn better weapons and skills. There were always uber player killers around, who logged 20 hours a day, looking to loot you.
It made the game much more addictive, and rewarding. Now, this is what I enjoy. I am very much in the minority. Many folks looked for cheat codes for UO to get infinite gold, etc. They wanted instant action and gratification. This is the majority.
Veterans of AH have paid their dues by learning ACM. I would love to see more diversity in the MA, and would happily start with the lowest plane out there, with the challenge of earning my way to my ride of choice. Most Vets would not do the same, and if they had to, would most likely quit.
The point is, you cannot go backwards in AH MA. You've given folks almost 100% free choice of the plane set. If you take it away, HTC is going to lose money.
It's just not going to happen.
