[ottersnot]

It definitely passes the coolness test.
I've read several other articles about this and believe its an idea that is past due. The M16 is just too fragile.
My opinion based on what I hear, and owning one.
They are fun to shoot and accurate, but hard to maintain.

[SFC Chromey]

I concure, that it passes the coolness test. I'm glad to see they aren't stuck trying to continue using a round that doesn't kill what you are shooting at.

I had no maintainence issues with the M-16A2's we had in the desert. I cleaned mine about 2x per month, not one misfire in 13 months.

The M9 is another story, but then we weren't talkin' pistols were we? lol

[GSlob]

Well, FWIW, if I were to have design input, I'd be putting two gas tubes symmetrically around the barrel, and otherwise symmetrizing all the moving parts with regard to the barrel axis, to minimize the vibration and to make steady holding easier.