If you want to play the game more realistically fly in the FSO and Scenarios. They all utilize how planes/GVs strenghts and weakness work in team cooridanted efforts. The MA is a sand pit where people can do what ever they want. That will never change. There will always be a different style of player in it.
You can call people "scorepotatos" all you want but in reality most of those sticks are pretty good. You could bash each of their styles one by one but they all get kills, they capture bases, and they tare $h|t up. I think what you fail to realize is that most of these players have played the game for a long time and really understand how it works. If you want to he better at the game you have to learn how to get kills and avoid deaths easier. No one learns defense so they fail when they don't have the advantage. People don't utilize TU-S or 110s in the attack aspect. The majoirty of the people playing still have so much to learn. You have to learn a style and learn how to be effective in the MA style where everything goes.
Most of the rivals I've had in this game end up being squad members and are all awesome people. I'd say anti-hoard particularly 2cmex, Pigs on the wings, FBs, and AKs. They've all the been some great squads to fight with and agaisnt.
Never said anything about flying "realistic". The way this game is played has changed dramatically over the years. Also said nothing about using planes to their strengths as a problem either. Flying a 152 to pick and run is what it was made for and if that is how you want to fly it, that is fine. What is missing is players looking to fight. Sure we still have a number of guys who will fly anything and fight any numbers, but that number/percentage is so much smaller these days.
There was a time when you could name the top 10 squads and the top 10 pilots and most wouldn't be in the top 25 on the score page. They made their names by being good players, good sports, and good for the game. Now everyone knows the "top" guys from how much trash they spew on 200, how many PMs they send. Its a trend generated by "gamers" After all thats what they do now a days, all internet tough guys, hiding in mommys basement.
Personally, I know I'll never be a top dog in this game. I'm almost 60, my reflexes are no where as good as they were when I was in my 20-30. My eyesight is going faster than my hair is falling out. I don't have the time to "invest" for good practice as I still work full time and take care of my family as well as my in laws. What time I do get to play I do to hang out with friends I have met in the game over the last 11+ years I have been here. There are no longer enough squelch spots left open when the braggarts and politicians get on to stay tuned to 200 so I have to cut off a number of friends by detuning 200. On the other hand, this game is still fun. Many fights can be had. Rooks had a couple of fights for bases that lasted hours yesterday. In those battles I ran into a number of fun fights most of which I lost. Even so, most of those players saluted back and forth and they didn't seem to feel the need to point out how awesome they are, we all just had fun.
Those that seem to feel the need to brag about how good they are do so because they don't get enough praise. Maybe they don't get that praise because they really aren't that good?