Just to make clear -
I do not have any problems with players that are loyal to their team for years. I fully accept when somebody does not find any appeal in changing sides. I do understand when palyers like to have a goal beyond simply shooting each other down, it can create very diverse and exciting combat situations. Heck, I still deem myself being a kind of "strategic" player. As an old wargamer, like when someone actually has an eye for strategy and a golden hand for operational tactics and tkes operations beyond the simple fureball. I would even play a much more war-centered version of AH.
But as in real life, stout loyalty can have a downside. It's a small step from patriotism to fanaticism, even in a cartoon plane game. The world is getting black & white, there is an excuse for everything, and everything out there is deeply rotten and hostile, be it the other chesspiece, dissenters on your side or even Hitech, who we all know to favor Bish (or was ir Rooks? Knights?). The enemy always has less ENY, flies higher and generally hordes (while our hordes are called "Great teamwork everybody! WTG on that capture!")
The thing I will never understand: How can someone play a game designed by a biased company, full of cheaters, haxxors, traitors, spies, on a team that totally sucks.. for several hours each day?
How can you hope to motivate your team by constantly insulting them? oh wait... I once had a boss in real life that thought the same way