I don't get it either.
They're having fun doing what they want to do. Whether you were hoping to find a vulch fest or a furball, doesn't matter, didn't happen, long flight in a spit, yeah that sucks. No reason to change that particular aspect of the game.
What I did read in this thread is a common desire to have a different 'dar' bar for GV's. If the flashing bases represent spotters on the ground then they would most certainly call out vehicle type and number.
Maybe this is a change coming with the new revision, who knows.