The reason why VLC is used mostly by the FS crowd is because the codecs are already built in. MPC’s greatness comes in it’s easy interface: I use MPC mostly for watching movies as compared to WMPC because you can go full screen or half screen and control of the volume etc is easily accessible. I have played a DVD foreign version of a hentai OAV (cough) and MPC was also screwy.
MPC and WMPC as I’ve observed has to rely on the DL of K Lite/and or CCCP codec packs in order for them to play properly. I also recommend GOM Player which is inching closer to VLC status...
Already have both of those, pretty sure that’s actually how I got MPC to begin with.
Original reason I didn’t use VLC is it wouldn’t play nicely with one of my machines at one point...likely resolved by now, but I’ve been using the other 2 for so long I’m not likely to change til the next nuke and pave.