I've fought Raven several times and, indeed, the Hellcat is inferior (especially against the LA-7). Again, I have no issue with accepting such a fight (as I've already sent you a PM asking for the date and time).
The issue is that the results of such a matchup offer little value to this discussion, which was a debate over how the F4U would perform relative to the LA-7. A matchup between the two would serve as a visual for comparing theoretical performance against actual (functional) performance; simply, it would be a good supplement to the discussion (and might actually change some opinions). It was never about "X pilot can beat Y pilot."
But like I said, I'm down for whatever.
In order to compare the two planes, you would have to have two people, equally good in both planes, switch between the two enough times to actually make a valid comparison. Simple scientific method really...
If I for instance took up your challenge, I would likely lose regardless of which plane I flew. I don't have time to play 3-4 hours a day like you, so this would go more to prove my theory it's more the mechanic than the tool. I also know you love to duel, which is also a learned task, only a small amount of which transfers over to the MA. I don't get "jazzed" by the joust like you do, so again, me against you in a duel proves zippy.
More on topic, even though we all can agree that "all things equal", the LA is likely to win more than it loses, never in the MA are things "equal". Someone is always higher/faster/slower, and most importantly more skilled/less skilled than you are. For the top 5%, I don't think it matters in the least what they fly, they will win LOTS more than they lose. Since you have more play time than the average teenager works a summer job, I bet if you get out of your 190 and LALA, and into a high eny ride, I bet you will still have great success... I still say, in the MA, the player is a greater factor than any of the tools...