I think the first comparison is far more valad.
Anyway there seems to be a lot of concern for damaging the receiver and being a helpless spectator of an out of control plane. Well I will ask again. Have any of you ever fired an airsoft gun? These things will shred cardboard but pad that cardboard with foam and there is not enough energy to even dent it. Your Red Ryder BB gun you got for Christmas back in '52 when your dad got the Leg Lamp would have more penitration and energy impacting the receiver. Bottom line that is a dead issue the receiver can be protected far better for a "Aerial Gunnery Event" then the antena wire can be for a combat event. (There is that comparison again.)
So are you saying your only going to take 1 shot with the pellet gun? You don't keep shooting these planes until they lawn darts? Who are you kidding here?
I had a pellet gun as a kid so I know what damage they can do. We are talking balsa here not steel. Not only that they are also talking about paintball guns and those things will take a balsa plane down with ease.
Also who are you are trying to sell this concept of this event as compared to combat too? Well guess what, shooting planes with objects IS NOT COMBAT in any way shape or form. There is a 10 page document created with rules and standards and if you try to use that document as your relief from negligence after your lawn dart impacts something it shouldn't have hit, BUZZZZZZ. If you think the 2 are alike, you never read the combat rules. You can try to make this comparison to me and to sell to yourself till your blue in the face, but the only loser will be yourself if you ever try to look for a claim.