So then leaving out the noobs and stablemates the only perspective is the vets in this thread and how they happen to feel about the spit14 today.
Well Bustr, the vets do have the experience to see a little bit better how one thing would impact the game versus another. The guys (and gals) that hop on for a month or two simply don't have the experience to know how doing one thing or another would affect gameplay as a whole. But neither does a single vet, where a collective (those on the forums) are able to purse fight out all the good and the bad. Where as our noobs have not had enough experience flying in/against every plane in the game to see its true colors.
Also, I saw something about a learning curve, and I must say, although the Spit XVI is a trainer, a "learning curve" should not be our reason to keep it unperked. We have this place, it's a magical wonderful place, where if you want to learn, there's almost always someone there learning to teach. It's this place called the Training Arena. I've learned just about as much in there as I have flying against other players. Why? Because the TA gives you the "textbook" info, and the MAs give you the experience. Without the basic knowledge, you aren't going to go very far. Where as if you get your textbook info down, if you know how to react in certain situations, then you just need to learn how to specifically do it, perfect your timing, and polish the maneuver. The Spit XVI, imo, doesn't "teach" players how to be better AHers, it teaches them to be greifers. It teaches them, "Hey, you can shoot people head on with these .50s and 20mms, you can run, you don't have to actually fight."
My .02