Hi Doormouse, i concur with some of the bugs you are reporting. In short the tomcat radar system is very bugged at the moment. Just to share my recent experience, i am also experiencing:
1. In TWS mode, once a phoenix is fired at a TWS target, radar mode instantly reverts to RWS causing immediate lost track of target as well as missile guidance. However i notice this occurs more often towards targets that have not been IFF but are positively identified earlier by pilot.
On top of that, unable to return to TWS mode and stuck in RWS mode when this occurs.
2.After launching a phoenix, there are times where the radar system refuses to exit auto tracking mode even after target tracking is lost, or missile is trashed ie hitting the ground,or spamming the PAL or PLM mode. When this occurs, no scan elevation at distance will be allowed, therefore disabling the pilot from beginning a new search for bandit.
I dont fly with a human RIO, so i can say for sure this affects the solo tomcat jockeys. Its really depressing to deal with these bugs, but im positive that Heatblur will come up with a fix, its just a matter of time. Lets be hopeful. Cheers.