It's good input.
The technical aspects of your post (non-intuitive GUI, server lists not populating, etc) are unfortunate, have been reported to 1C, and hopefully will be improved/resolved as CoD evolves.
You didn't mention if you were flying the ATAG Server, but it sounds like you may have been with the 300 ms ping -- our server is located in Chicago. A newcomer to the ATAG Server may well find the initial experience unfriendly -- even hostile. As you found out, it's "Full Realism" -- meaning no icons, no outside views, cockpit-only (no "Wonder Woman" unrestricted view), Complex Engine Management, etc. One exception: anthromorphic controls are disabled due to some inherent problems with it.
Another aspect to the ATAG Server that many newcomers with high hours in other game servers may find a little unsettling: very few rules. Obviously foul/obscene/abusive language or behaviour is not permitted over chat or the ATAG Teamspeak Server. Other than that, no deliberate shooting down of team mates (not to be confused with accidental friendly-fire incidents in the heat of combat). I think that's it.
Many servers have additional rules or understandings that there is to be no "vulching", shoulder shooting, no wheels-down shooting, team balancing expected, sportsmanlike behaviour expected, etc. etc. No such rules exist in the ATAG Server. If it could have happened in a real theatre of war -- so be it. Understandably, this can be a little unsettling (polite term for "pisser") for many coming from other servers -- so be it.
. As a well known and much-loved (Cannes Festival -grade) video has said, "There's no licking in a dogfight!"
Some quick tips:
1) The are other Aussie pilots who fly Red on ATAG. PM me and I can hook you up.
2) Grab Teamspeak 3 (you may have it already). As you found, the "unsporting" (I prefer "dastardly" myself) Blue 109 pilots use comms to advantage. So do Reds!
3) Avoid coastal airfields (Hawkinge, Lympne, Manston, Ramsgate) for the time being. Spawn further inland (Rochester, Maidstone) which gives you the chance to grab some altitude as you fly eastward towards the combat zone.
4) How did Clint put it? "You gotta get mean.....junkyard dog-mean!"
Looking forward to flying with you online. I'd be proud to fly as your wingman. We could do some serious damage and definitely even up the score for you. Guaranteed the Blue team will be very timid about taking off when they see "Irrational and Snapper" on the Netstats scoreboard. Terrified, even.