One thing what need to set in your conf.in in in order to enjoy the longer visibility:

LandGeom=2

should be:

LandGeom=3

And make sure you are running also in perfect mode. Dunno though if above helps you with the shadows...

I hope they will continue with il-2/FB - regardless how good SoW may be with it's revamped modern game engine, there will be a lot of people pleased if il-2/FB were continued. I think it still has a bigger audience than SoW would have. Think of all the people that don't have the latest hardware. M$ didn't and lost a lot to Linux when they introduced Vista. I know I will run IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 for a lot of years to come. Once SoW:BoB is released it does not mean I will stop playing IL-2.