I think after the last couple of changes with EW etc SAM and AAA is very well modeled in game. I play mainly modern games (2000s) and I now "love" that an incoming SU-25 strike doesn't get killed by the loads of MANPADS the AI buys...
And I don't think area SAMs are ineffective. Especially the modern russian/soviet systems like SA-10 or SA-11 are quite good at blowing up some nasty A-10 or F-16 coming in to haras a peacefull tank company...
