MA is like a bar fight. Bar fights where guys punch it out 'till someone loses then go back inside and have a beer together can be great fun. Bar fights where one guy pulls a knife and shanks a couple guys are totally different.
Nonsense.
The only reason the two don't go have a beer together is that a few go away with hurt feelings because they put themselves into a situation where a faceshot was going to happen and/or were too slow to aviod one. It would be great if everyone realized when they lose/die it their own fault. Instead of using it as a learning oportunity some take it out on the other person who simply
pointed out their error by pulling the trigger.
If you view it as a simulation, why would you want to intentionally go nose to nose? Your risk of virtually dying and not completing your virtual mission goes through the roof, so it's not a very safe way to play if surviving the sortie is what you're after. I've noticed there are far less blatant HO's in FSO and scenarios, save for the really desperate guy who's being ganged or the injured plane who knows he won't make it back anyway, so I'm not really buying the "Guys ho'd in WWII, so as a true sim pilot, I will embrace the HO" stance it seems you're trying to take. You can fly for immersion and the simulation without making the HO shot one of your favorite shots to take.
Score will mean what you want it to mean. People that put no stock in score are the ones that have had their butt kicked at one time or another buy a guy who ranks 1238 but could likely take out 98% of the arena if the fights where on anything approaching even terms. Some people just don't fly for score, and because I know that, I don't put much stock in how good someone is just because their rank is high.
See above.
If the other person places themself in a situation where a front quarter shot is open, I take it. I don't place myself purposefully into that situation, the other person placed themselves into that situation.
At the end of the day, YOU are responsible for what happens to YOU during an engagement. Period.
FYI - I've specifically stated in the forum
many times that a
true HO (i.e. a nose to nose shot) is dumb to attempt as it's a crap shoot. Speaking personally, I avoid these. I'm specifically speaking about a off-nose front quarter shot, which many AH pilots equate as a 'HO' as well.