I bet alot of you have flown on server's with other players who use the Mod and you did not know it. That is a fact. Unless you fly on a closed password protected server. All this mod does is improve (IMO) some aspects of the game. I understand Billfish's example about mirror's (historical correct), clean gunsights (historical correct), clean canopy's (show me one pilot that would fly with a dirty canopy!) and the like. In her opinion, that is a "cheat". I like alot of others say that the track IR option is a "built in" cheat. A "cheat" is using something for a unfair advantage. For me that is a track IR. If everyone had it, it would not be a "unfair advantage". There IS a difference between using one and not on a closed pit server. Ask anyone who upgraded to one. But that is the opinion of a few. I know, I know, Bearcat.....apples and oranges!
I just got a new joystick for X-mas, a simple Saitek EVO (tm), and it is 1000% better than my 7 year old Sidewinder (tm). I have been getting more kill's now online than before. Flying much smoother (and I am a terrible fighter pilot), that some who have flown with me before are screaming "CHEATER, YOU ARE A TERRIBLE PILOT, YOU SHOT ME DOWN, YOU MUST BE CHEATING !!!!" Untill I tell them I finally got off my lazy butt and got a new stick. Then it is "OK, I GOT A NEW ONE TOO.....LOL". Is that a "unfair advantage" ? Matter of opinion, I say.
"Cheating", unless it is clearly proven, by definition, can be just a matter of opinion. What I see is, servers that embrace the Mod openly, are well populated. Some servers who "Damn" the mod (not all,the WW arcade ones are always full), are usely sparce populated. It is just like the so-called "Full Real" servers. Tons of them on Hypnolobby, but rarely visited.
There maybe no clear answer to the self-made schizm now. Both sides are "RIGHT" in their minds. I think ther servers should state from the beginning, MOD or NON-MOD. This BS, "if you use the Mod on our server we will ban you and tell everyone" is for the birds. Tell them simply to please leave, and please STATE IT BEFORE SO THE PEOPLE KNOW !!!!!
DerAlte