Originally posted by The Fugitive
Its really all in how you want to play the game. In most cases the guys you mention fly "carefully" to keep their k/d high, while other pilot who are easily as good if not better, love to do nothing but fight. These guys will jump into a 1 vs 5 just to see if they can get all 5 before they die. The guys you named would most likely avoid that fight because they wouldn't want to hurt their "rank".
Using rank, and scores to compare yourself to others is only good if your trying to see if your better at padding scores than they are.
Yes, I think you are correct they would probably avoid that fight. But, anyone of those guys could hop into KoH and easily be in the top 5 category. I once read a thread where one of the AH2 players of long association with the game stated that "The whole point of the game is to not get killed." Stay alive and continue to score.
My highest k/d in any aircraft currently is 1.7 to 1. That is nowhere close to good. I am personally looking for the edge that gives me the 5 to 1 ratio. I am still working on it. Reading more and flying more cautiously, not taking as many risk and landing kills sooner rather than later. I feel the fun is in the increased level of skill and craftiness trying to get to the top.
I don't hear anyone saying "Yeah, he finally shot me down or great that is the fifth time in a row my tank has been blown out from under me." Egress is just as much of a combat piloting skill as dogfighting. "Know when to say when."
Cheers:aok