If I model a kit with a pilot figure, the first thing I do is removed the pilot and stick him with the rest of the pilots, in a "pilots" drawer.
Personally, I find figures detract from a model, purely because they never, ever look as realistic as the model.
And, of course, my skills are nowhere near good enough to paint 'em!
So I don't mind if they are quietly dropped altogether, especially a they are using the resources to put a BE2 together.
Probably.
But then again, we are still waiting a decent Hurricane in 1/32, so importance doesn't seem to matter than much - at least until Fly release theirs.