I think we established a while ago that a large proportion (and yes, too many in my view) of the player base want to play lobster pots rather than small teams. Reasons vary. For some part of it might be the elevated likelihood of seeing end game toys in play. Perhaps others lack confidence and want to disappear in the crowd. Still others may have the unhealthy attitude that in a large game they can always blame someone else when they lose and thereby validate rather than challenge their own mediocrity. Some may genuinely prefer the crowded field where they only have their little piece of the map to worry about. A few might enjoy honing tactics like bertha and nuke rushing that are only really possible in the lobster pot.
Balancing the big picture and the little picture might be fun for you and me, but it doesn't suit everyone.
I would like them to indulge my preference for small games as often as I indulge their preference for big ones and to be honest consider the continued lack of adventurousness in so much of the player base a little selfish ("play my lobsterpot or don't play at all! lalalalalalalalala!), but I can't force them to play the games I like, only try to persuade them.
At least by opting for air quite a lot, I can partially indulge my desire to exert influence over the whole battlefield and so impact the big picture. It'd be nice if the rest of the team were better at stopping the opposition entrenching front line AA though. I'll give you the owls to do it, give something back please!