The real issue here is for the newbs. When someone starts out they fly SPIT IXs, and Ds, because they are fairly easy to fly, and you may even get a kill in one. I think I died over 100 times before I got my first kill.
It's been a few months for me as my bad video card kicked me out after the switch to AHII, but I'd hate to come back into it having to fly planes that weren't easy to fly, because I lost all my perks too easily.