the Lead is not there to set up the bandit for a pick by the 2nd, but rather to have an uninterrupted opportunity to finish of the bandit himself.
This sounds like the typical self serving logic used on the BBs. I don't think it is intentional way of thinking, just short sighted. In RL, they went after the kills, and yes someone stayed high. #2 tried to stay with his wingman. If #1 missed a shot, #2 would take it.
Your version is what people in this game WANT to happen, not what is prudent. But the most glaring oversight is, most of us want to be in the fight not watching it. So it's rare that you find someone who wants to wait around while you have all the fun.
Take into consideration how often you find a single bandit where the high cover can leisurely watch your 6. And if you're so far away from any action, why do you need high cover? In this case, #1 has a HUGE advantage because he doesn't worry about watching his six while the bandit has to constantly watch your high cover. That fair?
If you are close to the action and someone dives in, you lose your high cover. Now you're in a furball and the possibility of one of your guys getting picked is high. So now we are back to the pick/dont pick argument.
The point is, there are far too many variables to consider and this argument that picking is wrong will never make any sense other than this... all this is about beating baby seals and REMOVING the risk involved in doing it.
If we want "good fights" that are challenging, we all know who those people that give us the great 1v1s are and we can usually find one of them on and ask to duel.
I've had some great fights with you and they have always been in the vicinity of a lot of action. I remember good guys and bad guys flying all around us. I never asked for help and apparently you didn't either. These fights were as intense as they were because there was a high risk of getting picked. Take that away and they might have still been good fights, but they wouldn't have been great.