We play pretense in our private server as well. I won't lie to you. Aside from the Stinger and APKWS capability that the Apache lacks in DCS, there is not many functional things in the handling of pretense objectives that the Apache can't do. An Apache has just as good or better optics, even though they aren't mast-mounted. Additionally, if your friends are in the habit of flying solo Apaches and relying on George, he's near perfect at finding targets that you point him in the general direction of anyways. The fact of the matter is that an Apache is going to be able to find and destroy targets quickly and efficiently with or without a KWs help. This is part of the reason why the KW's role is now being filled by Apaches in real life. The KW's role as a scout helicopter is really not all that well represented in casual or semi-casual DCS gameplay either.
The KW shines in a couple areas. Coordination and target identification, and some of the little things it can do and how it does them. You might not be dropping tons of munitions on targets, but doing a fly over and dropping a smoke grenade on some poor guys head and watching him take a Hellfire to the face from your friend or communicating to your friends and lasing for spot track to get them on target or any other supporting scout role has a certain kind of satisfaction that some people are highly interested in for DCS. Even with less communication and coordination, consider a scenario where your friend in an Apache handles an objective by destroying AA and Armor threats from afar with Hellfires and then moves in to finish the objective with guns and rockets. A KW is a great aircraft to provide backup when an Apache moves in close. It's maneuverable and able to react quickly to anything firing on the Apache and engage it with rockets, .50 or even the pilots' M4s. In reality, while the Hunter-Killer capability that the KW adds to the game is cool and is a big part of why a lot of people are excited for it, it does take a group effort and it is time consuming to do. But the KW has more than just that to add to the game.
The light attack capability isn't as impressive as an Apache but sometimes firing a .50 cal machine gun or M4 from the cockpit or single rockets at a stubborn man with an AK or a supply convoy is more fun for some players than look-shoot-kill from an Apache IHADSS. Not to mention flying recon missions in Pretense will be nicer because while the Apache is a wonderful and capable aircraft, sometimes it flies like a brick with a propellor bolted to the top. The KW is simply easier and nicer flying in my opinion.
If communication and teamwork isn't something you are expecting from your buddies playing Pretense with you, and raw damage done is more important than the experience of flying the KayDub, then it simply might just not be the airframe for you.
tl;dr The KW might certainly not be as capable as an Apache when either are operating on its own. However, the KW operates in a role that, while not very well represented in DCS, is something that is highly interesting to some players.
