Some of the pilots had insane skills. They still do when I play. They don't let you breathe. As soon as you are in a tank etc. they are screaming down at you. Trying to turn a flag, as soon as it goes white you can expect bombs or cannons.
They've just played the map so many times they can actually predict who's going to be where so they're already in a position to swoop in.
I personally find vehicle play rather boring if you're infantry: you spend the whole game with AA or AT.
As for BF2 infantry-only play: I've been shot 'tween the eyes from 1/4 way across the map by guys running around with assault rifles within seconds of seeing them--even when I'd play as Sniper and had good camouflage. Unbelievable the hand (mouse)-eye coordination and ability to spot that some of these guys have--and they aren't using Aimbot! Sometimes I think I'm dealing with super humans, then I remember that if you spend 365 days a year playing FPS on a high-end system with a high-speed net connection you eventually will become unbeatable at it.
If BF2 were a little more realistic (i.e. more g-force effects while sprinting and other movements, limits on jumping and have bullets go where you aim them with a little weapon sway to add some difficulty to aiming) and had random maps preventing players from memorizing the map, you'd eliminate most of the exploits and avoid these unbeatable pros.
Thing is, BF2 has yet to be beat as an uncomplicated, sandbox-style FPS. Call of Duty 4 seems better in terms of infantry play but lacks the large maps (and vehicles if you like that kind of play). Also it requires a more powerful machine to run it (without glitching).
BF3 is under development. I'm guessing it will be more graphically intense and have more of everything but ultimately still be more of the same...
