The article on Pacific air power affirms your position, henkster, that it dictated our moves during WWII.
As I understand it that is one thing the U.S. doesn't have to worry about. The crux of the Japanese strategy is to entice the Americans into the great all-out battle in which the IJN will destroy the U.S. fleet, rendering the home islands impervious to further assault.
It dictated Japanese decisions too. Ever since the disaster of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea back in February, they will never again send a convoy of merchant ships into range of American air power.