I doubt I die (or get a PW or engine kill or other crippling damage) even 10% of the time HOing a formation of buffs, especially Lancs. I can usually at least cripple one, and it may be the only shot I get before they drop on my field or CV. Of course you can't come straight in. And if it's a lone A20 or B25 it's idiotic to try to HO him, you know he's just waiting for it and if you do it you'll probably get what you deserve.
Whining because someone in a tougher plane with 2 or 3 times the firepower of yours HOs you is like whining that ponies and 190s won't turn fight your Brewster. If you're going to fly a plane with such a blatant disadvantage you can't blame people for taking advantage of it. Likewise if you're trying to vulch someone taking off and you're dumb enough to come in front of him and on the deck, yes, you are going to get a faceful of lead - what do you expect the guy to do, try to maneuver at 90 IAS and give you a free kill? OTOH if you're in a 190A8 or even a jug I'm going to avoid the HO if it is humanly possible. If I don't and get killed, I'm not going to whine about it, it was my fault for getting in front of a plane with that kind of firepower.
OTOOH sometimes I'll HO a C-hog or Tempest just out of spite, depsite the poor odds I have against all those cannons, especially if they have a big e advantage and are dumb enough to go for a HO anyway. If you're going to take a fancy perk ride like that and all you can do is HO in it, you deserve to lose the perks. Either you'll learn to use a little more finesse or you'll quickly run out of perks, either way I figure the community wins.
People in this game whine too much and boast too much.