Yea, that kind of proficiency could definitely come useful in energy fights vs fighters.
Sometimes, you see bandit fighter going defensive, meanwhile you are zooming towards him with very good smash. You gotta decide though, go for deflection shot, or fly through (conserving your E). If the bandit is any good, he will break hard.
Problem for you now becomes, I go high, but it's like, I'm going TOO FAST LOL. Maybe the lag displacement roll could help in getting an effective shot at the enemy? That, or simply better throttle control and prop control during dives?
You don't exactly learn everything by simply boom&zooming every time. Although it can keep you alive for long time online. Old habits and patterns.
Although you do get an eye for this kind of speed difference (the exercise you proposed for in-game) when driving a car in real life and overtaking somebody on the road, indeed! Too bad my car has pretty much shit acceleration anyway so it's not like I overtake anyone on the road usually, hehe
PS: unless it's like an old granma driving at under-speeds on the highway.