Whats the origin of the online expresion salute?

I think there are about as many conception about how to play a combat flight sim as there are players. I can understand that some see it like a sort of competition (you mentioned boxing as an analogy). Others like the teamwork. Again other simply see it as a war simulation. Finally there are some that want to mass kills on their score board. And certainly there are other ways to see it.

I think each of these is a valid way to see this sim. The important thing is that people stick to the server rules and that they have respect for the other players and remain polite.