Depends on how you "play" it. There are those who treat it AH as a Sim (fewer all the time). There are those who treat it as a game (who typically hate anything to do with a/the strategic aspect). The Skyyrs of AH drive the gamey game the game nonsense. (Now come references to his statistical awesomeness, and Tridents and stuff).
The classic "you should play the way I play" argument. You clearly have no issue with "gamey" tactics (e.g. running WEP as much as possible), you just don't like "gamey" tactics that others use to beat you.
What's driving this game into the dirt is the "Get off my lawn!" community attitude (this thread is blatant evidence of that). Instead of either accepting the tactic (as it's clearly not cheating) or questioning why it would even result in an advantage (since the flight model is high fidelity), the community shows disdain, or otherwise insults, those who use the tactic, as if using game-based mechanical tactics to win makes one morally inferior.
Instead of upping your gameplay, you complain on the forums about realism... all while running your engine at WEP and rolling from a capped base, mashing your guns for 800yd shots. Your primary complaint isn't really about realism, it's about strategies which negate yours. Seems... ironic, coming from someone preaching strategy.
Also, focusing on skill is a strategy in and of itself.