I honestly don't think flares really make FBs OP. The combination of multiple health and damage upgrades and the cost reduction really contribute more. Flares are just icing on the cake because they make ground AA useless.
Yeah well they combine very well with health and shields, true. Flares decrease your DPS by xx%. Then shields add health that regens quickly. Then the basic hull is also stronger. So you get less damage and can take more, and if your plane isnt shot down fast it also regains the shield quickly.... I wonder if the gemini would be OP with flares..
Correction: Pink *told* me he didn't upgrade his ACU. (How does one access that log, precisely?)
I don't really consider the mass upgrade an 'acu' upgrade despite it being on the acu tree. It doesn't increase his capabilities any, I just wanted the eco.