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I think most IL1946 devotees would consider BOP as an arcade level game even in simulator setting and not classify it as a flight simulator by defiinition or comparison. BOP is a different game altogether but still enjoyable. On-line MP has suffered with falling numbers but (on Xbox) there are still regular games to be found most nights but with fewer players on line these day. Maybe the PS3 guys will update you on numbers for their platform. PS3 will let you have access to a wide range of PC flightsticks (unlike Xbox which is limited to just three currently available) and PS3 had the patch to improve aspects of the game. IL1946 is far more difficult than BOP and if you are expecting the same level of simulation and accuracy of flight modelling then you will be dissapointed. Having said that, I like BOP and the on-line community but I also like IL1946 which is a vastly different experience and a far greater challenge. BOP will give you Stalls and Spins, blackouts and redouts (PS3 only) Flap settings, Throttle, limited fuel/ammo but thats as far as it goes. No German cockpits, hardly any Take off and landings required other than in one MP game - Capture Airfields. Visually, the game is excellent and I would say better than IL1946 other than being stuck with one FOV (field of view) in cockpit view.

Edit: I don't think you need Track I.R for the Xbox console. The joysticks on Xbox have a Analog POV button mounted on the top hat which allows you track AC very easily as it auto centres the view when released so flying and observing your foe is far easier than on IL1946. I would imagine this is the same on PS3 but it supports PC joysticks which usually have a POV button that is digital switch based rather (than analog) so this feature may work differently on PS3 with PC joysticks. May be someone on PS3 will clarify that as it really does make a difference in Simulator mode in which there are no Icons visible to ID a/c.