Anyways, why don't people do what I do in TAW? use the Player To Target external view..in the close in knife fights, to better gauge your attitude in relation to the enemy..switch to cockpit/padlock when necessary..when you think you've completed your Yo Yos or about to etc. and need to line up the shot?
I don't care how companies try to do it, but the best padlock system I've ever used, was the one found in Falcon 3.0. I don't too care fo the one in Falcon 4..having the SA bar along the top of the screen was a much better method in my view, than having it along the side..(no I haven't flown much F4 either heh heh).
It is inherently difficult to try to track a target that is supposed to be in 3dimensional space..on a 2D monitor. Thus, whilst there is a struggle to maintain 'Realism'..that must be offset against the inherent limitations of the monitor screen. I'd like to see a company bring out say two padlock systems in the game,one for the 'ultra realistic I can use my imagination to figure where the plane is' crew, and another for the ' Gee..I wish I had an attitude indicator that looked like an external view of the plane right about now to figure what the hell I'm doing..hey is that another plane or a few stray pixels? Gee I know I could do this..if only I could see my damned plane..."
:-)

Wait..don't tell me that FLanker 2 doesn't have a functional Player To Target external view??
Even Falcon 3.0 had that..and Ef2000...and F22ADf..and TAW..and ..and..and

This would be included in my Super Fix Mix list for F2.