Seems like ammo load being used up would affect a planes performance , same as fuel being used up affects plane performance?. Being this game is modeled kinda like real life. And if it aint, it should be.
Offline play is changable for your own preferences , say like a have it your way play. I'm sure they dont limit the changes offline so you may have your dream team type plane in Your style arena, same in h2h its for you and 9 others to play dream team planes or arena, I'd think HT has no care if someone is offline where noone cares about things being equal or like RL .
Its free even if you dont join AH online! (offline is like the burger king of AH, have it your way). not like in the MA online with paying customers. This is a business for them, there not gunna give away a online type game or instore type modeled game for free (who would?). Only time i've seen that was when AH2 was beta, and they needed testers. I'm guessing also, so I could be wrong, or i just got the short offline version. hey!!! what the!!!!! lol