hmm I liked the mission recorder/playback feature back in the good old days, but agree with Dave there are more important things to focus on.
I just realized that in all Il2 titles I own, I used the mission playback to watch the supplied tracks to kill time -once, and never used it myself later playing them. Same with Mig Alley and BoB2:WOV. In DCS A-10, I never ever used it, so good point. Movie making guys, and there are some doing great clips around, will use FRAPS anyway
edit:
If I had the chance to choose, I'd prefer the time to be spend on 3D view in mission editor (Janes' ATF baby!) or possibility to add target areas via said mission editor...