I have to disagree. If you make a decision to model a game to a certain level of realism, that level should be reflected throughout the game, and should not completely mess up balance, and this is a matter of system balance, not MP balance. What I'm saying is :
If you make one system of a certain level of realism, then the countering system imo should be of the same (yes, this also includes eccm :). This often translates in a balanced game, but even though I want this to be the same, it sometimes is not. (Think Falcon4 ramp start with lomac easy radar ^^)