Pardon the frank speech but both online and the "human factor" are grossly overrated. Unless you have a tight-knit bunch of people with exactly the same ideas about gameplay you get inflated egos, dogfight fixation, an underlying sportive contest menthality and not to forget little more than a steady gangbang. I rather cope with the faults of the AI - which will at least fly everything I put it into without moaning and whining and demanding "fairness" - than waste my precious freetime on an online environment that doesn't give me anything ... except a headache.
