The reason the EW areana is dead is because the only poeple in there are tools. When people go there who want to actually FIND other planes to fight the tools change country or just log off. It has nothing to do with the plane set.
The reason I don't fly LW arena is because the only people in there are tools. See, I can make the same uneducated generalization about your arena, and it sounds just as stupid. True, there are 'tards in EW who don't want to fight and go out of their way to avoid one.
I think that more people (not gonna say who) fly in EW because of the tactics they use and how gamey they are.
People dont fly in there alot because it is all the same--Horde-->Take-->Horde-->Take-->Get killed once-->Leave or switch sides.
Hmm, that's why I don't fly in LW: Horde-->Pick-->Horde-->Vulch...
Don't throw stones in your glass house...most of the posts on the BBS are from LW people and I see complaints about lame gameplay every day.
Most of the people who play in there alot wouldnt stand a chance in the LW arena's with thier tactics for taking bases and having "fun".
Believe it or not, there are people who just prefer the slower, under-powered equipment of that era. It has nothing to do with skill - just because some prefer EW doesn't mean they lack the skills needed to be successful at aerial combat. Also take into account that different equipment requires modified application of tactics, be it in the air or on the ground.
Enough hijacking this thread...I think it's a good thing that HTC is working on a WWI arena and I will spend much time there. For me, this game is all about the fight, and it sounds like that's what the arena will be set up to accomplish.