I think aircraft are more difficult to see in AvA then they would be in real life(or in the MA's with the neon banners for that matter). In real life moving objects stand out and depth perception is more accurate depending on what kind of terrain the con is flying over. This is offset to an extent by dar dots but it is still is a factor. Over turquoise water this isn't an issue but I've never been able to adjust my gain and resolution to significantly change it over green or dark water.
I still prefer no icons though, and enjoy the challenge, but it still is a factor in skewing against allied rides. In WWII they utilized superior ACMs, organizational tactics, utilized their aircraft's' strengths and eventually overwhelmed axis pilots with numbers and better trained replacements. Allied pilots were explicitly instructed not to 1v1 turn fight with superior turnfighters. You know that though 
She actually has a big Swift grin knowing she is getting so many new parts and that she will be flying shiny for the first time in 10 years soon 
Good observations, Seadog!
Some additional thoughts for consideration:
Real world: Constantly changing light conditions, aspect angles, background definition, and atmospheric effects as an aircraft moves in relation to it's background (ground or sky) can and does make an aircraft easily disappear in it's background. With so many variables in the 3D world plus the windscreen/canopy, sunglasses, or visor anomalies, and the effects of last night's beer front, it is often more difficult to pick the bogey out of the background, even when it's not intentionally trying to hide from detection.
In Game: The lighting conditions are relatively stable and consistent. Options are available in game to adjust resolution, graphics detail, gamma, etc and thus make the background more user friendly and detection of the opponent less challenging, if one so chooses. Similarly to out in the world, there are dirt specks on the monitor and fingerprints on the glasses to deal with. Can't tell ya how many times I've chased around after a dirt speck on my monitor.
So, with these in consideration, I submit that icons may be better suited for the real world. It's good that you recognize the real world benefit of tactics and mutual support in combat. As you say, training and tactics are the key to superior air combat. That applies out there and in here. Using tactics is a way to overcome superior performance and/or numbers. In a combat situation where losing the fight meant more than going back to the tower and upping another pixel ride, the superior, training, and execution made the historic difference.
Just another perspective. As always, it's a computer game, it's $14.95 month that we each use as we see fit, and a whole lot of fun.
Check Six!
