yes -I keep forgetting about non-powered models these typically stay at very low pitch attitudes and getting best l/d is crucial to performance.
On aerobatic powered models- power n weight loadings are the targets
even on full scale competition aircraft
these guys drool over the power /weight loadings we have with models
the best of these are the ones with highest power to weight - no exceptions.
Try as I might -I can't make an aerobatic powered model which is too light.
in the tiny world of electric foamies -we are now down into 3-4 ozs per sq ft on high power aerobats and the performance is simply unreal. stop start -reverse directions- etc., instant.
The world we knew ,as a kid - was watching B17's and B24's flying off to war -
these designs were primitive -in power and the flight envelopes were simply put- a disaster for many--but they were as good as we could do at the time