I'm okay with it, mainly because I think it'll be inconsequential for the noob but a lot of fun for others. Noob in a Tempest = dead Tempest, typically... Noob in a 262 = 262 trying to turnfight... and stalling.
Perk the Spixteen... boring and too easy... Then you can have noobs in the Spixteen getting killed too. Oh, wait, that already happens.
Yes, I'm all for anything that brings in new people. There are only so many 2CMEXs you want to encounter in a day. That said, I need to credit CMex for using that N1K2. I actually evaded him the other night (after he'd gotten himself a shot, even) and felt as good as if I'd gotten a kill.
I really love this idea, mentioned in Fess' rant, of the better sticks flying the lesser tin. Violator in a P-40? Tres cool. I mean, I fly junk, and I'm just a marginal part-timer who knows enough to know he's not that good. If the strong players fly the garbanzo, it will illuminate new paths for the ordinary players, and lend both excitemnt and validation to the large accumulated plane set we enjoy.