Don't give up m8. Once you get used to cockpit view you'll never go back. You will out fly the guys not using cockpit. Proper use of trim and prop pitch will have you going faster and shooting straighter than the other boys. That said I had a hell of a time getting used to full switch servers. My first kill didn't come until many hours and me dieing many times and the when I did get a kill it was a team m8
I do prefer servers with out side views and plane ID as I find it a faster game with less mistakes as identifying ac is much harder than real life.