The standard wing mounting has withstood vertical dives to sharp pullouts and full throw loops from a steep dive. As long as you don't get crazy with the power and controls at the same time you won't have to worry. My high speed model had to have a different mount because of the ailerons. I lowered the threaded plate into the fuse and used longer mount bolts. No I don't use the struts on mine. I don't like nonfunctional struts and reinforced the wing slightly to make it unnessary. The struts being balsa were going to take some time to airfoil and would not be very durable.
I am installing struts on my Ag plane but they're airfoiled aluminum and although it is designed for a .09 its getting a AME .15. These struts will need to be functional.
Lets face it the 1/2a offerings are less than scale. Most good flying ones barely look like the real plane. More details require more weight and more drag, things a 1/2a doesn't need. I cringe at the Ace Simple Series but I can live with the Herr planes.