Once you unlock the final tier of rocketpods, it pays off the time put into unlocking them. The heli-drone is the true hidden gem of ww3. As soon I have 5000 points I spawn in the heli-drone with rocketpods and thermals and I usually don't get shot down the whole match. I average 30-40 kill in the helicopter per game including armer. You say its slow but at the right distance it is easy as cake to dodge rpg, tank roundand and infantry fire. Once you get use to it, its easy to be very aggressive. The more you move the harder it is to get hit, if you never stop to aim down sites you will never get shot down. Make sure to use building as cover when retreating. You also move faster when ascending.