The F-18 and particularly the F-18E/F has significantly better high alpha
capability than the F-14. In a 1v1 environment, that can be decisive, even
against an adversary with superior overall energy maneuverability. Or not.
A somewhat less maneuverable machine (F-14 etc) with superior excess power
can drive the fight into the vertical and eventually gain a positional
advantage over the F-18. It takes considerably more skill and patience than
to merely point and pull, but it can be (and often is) done.

The major disadvantage of entering the high alpha regime is that you are
volunteering to be a target. When you throw out the anchor to perform a
high alpha fight, you might just as well paint a bullseye on the aircraft
.... the bogeys start appearing like flies around a fresh cow pie.

And of course there's the problem of egress. Time consuming when you're
accelerating from next-to-no knots and particularly frustrating when many of
the bogeys can accelerate more quickly and reach considerably more knots
than your Bug.

As to airshows, I've heard the E/F high alpha moves and square loop are
simply dazzling. OTOH, the double dirty Immelman the F-14 performs is a
rather stunning display of raw power.

R / John