Truthfully, I think it's both. First reaction from novices shooting the AR for the first time with it's "big bang" and no appreciable recoil is "WOW"! They go from being apprehensive, somewhat intimidated by the entire concept of shooting an HP rifle, to being "best-buds" with the rifle after that first shot, and it propagates from there.
My son very pointedly kept his trusty A2 in Iraq, mainly because he wasn't too impressed with the M4 in Afghanistan. If you're working urban areas and are in and out of vehicles....you like the M4. If you're running convoy escort like my son...you want the extra punch and reach of the A2/A3. One size DOESN'T fit all!Heck another question as you hear tales from 'over there' first hand;
Has the shorter barrel lengths (16" and less in vogue nowadays it seems) reduced the round's effectiveness?
Tommy