Yo how do you play Zeros?

Everything always has the advantage over them, speed, climb rate, armament, the only thing the A6M series really seems to have is their agility but that doesn't really matter much if literally everything [4.0] can out climb or out run you. From all the guides I've watched and general experience with playing the A6Ms (currently using A6M3 [first one]) I know I have to bait whomever I'm fighting into a dogfight but if they don't actually fight you there's not much you can do. Should I just give up and buy that premium F-4EJ instead?

TL;DR: General Advice flying the Zeros and Japanese fighters in general?