As one of the older group, let me start by saying that I am not jaded. Also I challenge the idea that the up and comings somehow have some kind of edge over the validity of FMs etc. What hasn't changed is how the aircraft actually flew. Some of the 'jaded' group probably actually know.
The main argument here has circled around modders (or hackers). They are called hackers because they have broken into, or hacked, the game code. I am against them for one simple reason, I don't know their credentials whereas Oleg at least tries to stay true to his.
I don't doubt that some of these guys are as keen as I am to achieve 'realism' but as I said, I don't know them, have no references for them and have no reason to believe they have got it any more right than Oleg. So I would rather it had been left alone because I wouldn't want it to become like CFS used to be (still is?) with ridiculous hacks, FMs etc. It became a joke.
I play this game for the best realism it can give me. The unavoidable truth is that the hackers, good and bad, will grow and the bad ones will destroy the game, not SOW, unless hacks are detected by the online servers and the players kicked off.
If the hackers want to run their own servers thats fine... but whose hacks? How chaotic is that going to become? Or how narrow a player base will it support if they implement "my hacks only" servers.
Roll on SOW:BoB. It will be just as exciting (challenging) using 8 (not 6 btw) .303s against 109Es (two reduced muzzle velocity cannons & m/c guns). Of course we RAF types will get our arses kicked by cannons and superior numbers. At least I hope so, because that's how it was. It isn't about having FUN dammit! It's about the experience!
The subsequent rollouts of 'Leaning towards France', 'North Africa', 'Burma' or whatever will keep our interest alive. And yes, I will still play late war IL2 until SOW gets that far.
And no, I'm not interested in naff 'I can't cope' wonder woman views, transparent frames, pink camouflage, uber death rays... bahhh, humbug..... crochety grumble..... I can get that kind of stuff in an Xbox, Playstation, hacked CFS or whatever.