But my question is this: has anyone played the whole campaign, with realism above 85 (and really should be at least 90) without getting killed? Seriously.
Has anyone done the entire campaign with just one pilot persona? I mean you could get blasted and limp home, or even punch out and get rescued. I personally haven't been rescued but...
I guess I'll have to qualify it further. Let's say this game is hyperUNrealistic in terms of DPRK readiness and tenacity. They fight like hurricanes and they never seem to deplete. Has anyone done the campaign without dying AND without rejecting a mission outcome? Be honest now. Also, what's the average percentage of losses to US fighter squadrons? 25%? 50%? I'm interested to hear responses. If you consider that YOU are supposed to be the superhero of the war, then mission outcome rejection has a logic to it. On the other hand, a really well designed game would have you getting zapped but limping home or bailing/rescued several times. The "getting annihilated by a swarm of Su-37 SuperFlankers" scenario should only happen perhaps a half dozen times throughout the campaign. And it should still be a situation that with practice and planning you can negotiate a successful outcome: survive.
Just want some comments on optimum play balance.

I figure, fly a dynamic campaign evolving over a 5 to 10 day period. 25 to 50 missions.
Your skills in planning and evasion should bring rewards. You should meet "Colonel Tomb" a couple of times, but with practice you should be able to defeat him and his numerous minions.