VHF scatter?

Stations spotting my
2.5W 2m FT8 to the
big-wheel omni today

The perceived wisdom is that long distance VHF scatter communications is due to aircraft. Time and again I have questioned this as I seem to get spotted at great distances at almost any time with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna on 2m using FT8.

FT8 works with signals that are weaker than SSB and CW and I wonder if we are able to make use of some other scatter mode? Either that or there are so many planes in the air that the time of day doesn't matter. Somehow the latter doesn't seem likely as at the beginning of lockdown I could still get as many distant spots and QSOs on QRP 2m FT8.

It would be interesting to hear the views of others.