Gave up online long ago (although I'm always keeping an eye on the developements there) because online has degenerated into a steady ego-driven gangbang between various fighter types - essentially not much more than a "Shoot-em-up" in the air. A serious simulation of
aerial warfare as it happened in WW2 is only possible offline as the AI doesn't have an ego that needs to be stroked. It won't b*tch and moan when it doesn't get the latest and best aircraft of the period (because it wasn't present in the operation I want to simulate), it will fly Il-2s, bombers, Stukas and the likes without yammering about being the poor target drone and it won't run to the nearest message board to whine and cry about just how biased I am ...
No, online is in my opinion completely overrated unless dogfighting is all you're interested in. You can't do a serious simulation of aerial warfare with living people flying for their enjoyment, 'cause war isn't about having fun.