The new game engine was designed to be easily upgraded, much more so than the original Il-2 engine. Take the ocean and rivers for example, the engine is capable of improving water much like the water was improved in the original series. Also the new engine is capable of giving the rivers, riverbanks, which will make a huge difference in the overall look of the terrain.
All aspects of the terrain can be adjusted more realistically as resources allow. I have no doubt that the terrain will look much different as it evolves over the next ten years.
Personally I don't think we will lose flight sim quality as the sim slowly evolves into a combined forces sim. People building terrain vehicles, or ships arn't adversely affecting those people building the aircraft and other game play features in the sim. It will only add to the overall immersion of flying aircombat with a ground and sea war going on below. Maybe I feel that way as my flying as evolved into enjoying more ground attack missions over air to air. Although I do enjoy jabo runs and shooting a Spit down for something to do on the flight home.
