Hey Muck,
From reading some of your other posts I know you're a strat guy. CT really isn't much for base captures. Difficult to mount a base capture against equal numbers or when total numbers for both sides are below 100 which is usually the case in the CT. Also, on a lot of maps in CT you have to flatten whole town and base to capture.
The CT, at least in my opinion, is all about the plane matchups. THe CM's do a great job of keeping them even. The result is a lot of good fites. Sure there are times when the numbers are lopsided and it can suck, but that's true in the MA as well. Most of the time, everyone logged in goes to the same area to have it out so you end up with a lot of good furballs even if they are not the size of the ones in the MA.
As you've already noted, the general skill level of pilots in the CT is higher than in the MA, so you won't get a whole lot of cheap kills. On the other hand, if you want to improve your ACM, it's a good place to go. Also, the attitude of players, many of which are long time players, seems freindlier and more mature.