Have to agree there.
But to me it isnt that big of a deal, considering all the stuff the AI has to be able to do it can only be expected that sometimes they will shine, and other times they will **** up and do stupid ****.
Every game AI does stupid stuff, but in ArmA there is just more options to **** up in, and is why it gets mentioned so much. But people should not forget the times when the AI does do something great.
For instance, when fighting in a city sometimes you'll see an AI run across the street without looking and ofcourse for this effort he gets shot.
At other times i have seen AI stand at the corner of a wall and leaning around it, while other AI's stood next to him and almost made a perfect 180 degrees covering position standing alongside the wall.
Sometimes they will even take cover at lamp posts.
Other stuff you might see happen is an heli crashing down with the pilot ejecting. IF he survives the landing he'll usually continue down to his waypoint to destroy his objective (even if that is tanks and all he has is an MP5, = not so bright move). Yet on the way there he might discover enemy patrols, come under fire, or see the tanks moving around and he'll lose moral and tries to flee back (= smart).
Sometimes, when AI are ordered not to fire, they will start to fire at an enemy. Usually a player will curse him for his stupid AI, but i've played with AI for pretty damn long and i can guarantee 99% of the time they will hold fire.
They will open fire however when they realise they have been spotted, ie see an enemy react and putting his gun up. Players will not always see this happen, but the possibility for this is present ever since Operation Flashpoint.
In OFP i had to recon a valley in one of the campaigns missions, shortly after you gain command over an AI squad. I sent a lone soldier into the valley to check things out before moving the rest in. He was in a 'never fire' and stealth mode, so he kept low, kept spotting targets, while i couldnt see anything happening from my own position.
Then came the moment he spotted an enemy patrol just 50 metres away from him coming from a bunch of trees, which spotted him.
I could hear firing in the distance, and shortly after he reported in a kill or two, i ordered him to return to formation as the entire valley opened up on his position. Even an BMP which was high up the valley hills.
After a while the firing ceased but i still didnt see my soldier, so i asked him for a status report but he never gave it: he was dead.
But he had enough instincts to survive not to just stupidly sit there while an enemy takes a bead on him. I was impressed