S!
Calling modders sh%theads SlipBall..Very slick, even immature. SoW with the certain aspects open for 3rd party additions..they are STILL mods. Like it or not. Mod is a commonly used word for content created by the players and not in a negative way. The start of them could have been better with IL-2 for sure, but nevertheless mods are here.
Maybe I do something wrong or even RTFM, because I have no problems joining mod servers. CRT=2 and Server Library makes it even easier as everyone have the same files and setup. Usually the server has a web page where they list mods used and in some cases in what order enabled via JSGME. How hard is it to take a moment and check it if in doubt?
4.1X will have features that sure interest me and will make me fly stock for a while. But stock does not have the new maps or their repaints, new effects and cockpits for example. Der Wüstenfuchs's Bf109 pits or C6_Claymore's Fw190 refreshes wipe the floor with stock ones, Freddy's new P47 or P51 pits..just to name a few...and they run just fine on my rig. I am not a masochist trying to run IL-2 on a jurassic computer, even today's laptops are better than the minimum specs
There are other games too than IL-2 that require a helluva lot more horsepower to run..figure the rest.