Unfortunately, I feel I must disagree with your premise that adding RPG elements to a WWI Air combat sim would result in broader appeal.
RPGs and Flight sims are two very specific niche genres... almost mutually exclusive in fact. They are two totally different kinds of gameplay, and I suspect that an attempt to merge the two together would simply result in a game that was nighter a good RPG, nor a good flight sim.
After all, you could argue that adding sidescrolling shooter and tetris style puzzle elements would cover an even wider base of appeal...but I don't think it would work out that way hehehe.
Having said that...some of your other ideas have, in fact, been included in our design. for example, the ability to set the realism by being able to turn of most functions at the server config level...allowing the server operator to taylor the game to the tastes of his audience.
We are also talking about some virtual aerodrome concepts. But when your comment arrives at ...(yes I know the frame rates will plunge)... That's where the paragraph would have to end hehehe. Crashing frame rates are not an option, so anything that cannot be made to work with good frame rates will ultimately have to go on the scrap heap.
Anyway.... Your brainstorming is appreciated, and rest assured that at least some of what you suggested is, in some form, already planned for the final product.
