One thing that has always managed to get of my nerves with the IL-2 series is how they can make about six varients of a plane. There is about 8 yak varients and 9 bf-109 varients if i'm not mistaken.
This only serves a small purpose but only in the original IL-2's campaign since that was a linear affair with flying different versions of planes as time passed, that makes sense but in forgotten battles, aep and pacific fighters this is made redundant as the plane you pick at the start of a campaign is the plane that you are forced at gunpoint (metaphorically speaking) to stick with.
This, I would imagine limits online play but I unfortunately wouldn't know because I don't have any net access from home.
I would say a maximum of 3 varients of the same plane at the most as its rediculous having anymore than that...
MORE PLANES LESS VARIENTS PLEASE!!