I chose to go back and remove all third party planes (even pay ware) and see if this would clear up my problem. I again installed the package over SFX/SP1, fired it up, and everything is working fine. Night lighting is back, no perceived change in performance, planes function properly, and no funny things happening as before.
That is what a technical-reinstall does, it eliminates the problems add-ons create and it is NOT Aces responsibility to tell you to uninstall all your add-ons they are not responsible for, nor, do they have time to test. That install also eliminates mistakes made during the initial RTM/SP1 install where there are so many possibilities of an error based on the user not following install protocol, or a corruption glitch, its not even funny.
Aces is responsible for RTM, SP1, SP2 and Acceleration packages being installed, and not ONE of your add-ons or how they may react or damage the sim by installing or overwriting textures or other files they had NO BUSINESS overwriting to begin with.
One the biggest GRIPES I have with payware and freeware developers, even with FS9, is that many of them INCLUDED modified gauges, textures and other files which OVERWRITE the default with the same names with absolutely no warning and in doing so, then, SCREW UP MY SIM in other areas. The only items an add-on should ever install are items that do not exist in the sim at all, or renamed items that are called by their products only.
So your reasoning is a bit flawed. Aces designed the package to be installed without issues. How you choose to do that is up to you but none the less, taking the easier route is not always the best way to go. Especially if you did not install SP1 correctly to begin with and there was a problem in that area you never knew existed.
Are you sure your sim is working at its max ability now... 100% sure?