Dear Devs,
my suggestion is simple: add the old career mode back! Not replacing the new one, but as a choice. I would be really nice to choose between the two.
Surely it was "more acadey" but nonetheless sometimes more interesting/less boring.
Does anyone here remember it? You could simply pick any Plane and Mission type you wanted from an available Airfield. Faction depended on the Airfield you chose.
And as you successfuly completed missions, combat theater progress went on through the stages we know today.
Pilot killed or captured?
Doesnt matter