I think, in part, that the whole AGD is dead is sort of backlash from the early years. When I purchased my first Mag something like 13 year ago, it was THE elite gun to have. The only other consideration was a Cocker, but only if you had time to tinker and upgrade. Over the course of the early and mid 90s, they pioneered HPA, and RT. People expected a lot out of AGD, and it is hard for them to accept that they actually ended up behind the curve, so to speak (although it might be more accurate to call them "beside" the curve). In fact, a lot of people who used to be die-hard mag fans felt a little betrayed with things like the Level 10. While not my own opinion, a lot of people I have played with who are former Mag owners, as well as a few angry forumites of old, said that, for years, they were told Mags didn't have an issue with paint. It seemed that everyone was trying to pass it off as negative spin by competitors, and any problems were simply user error. Yet, all of the sudden, they come out with this new bolt. On top of that, it had to be tuned, which was sort of the opposite of the old KISS methodology they had admired about Mags in the first place. To those people, things like this were a sign of a company that had gotten behind the times, and were scrambling to keep up: sort of an "oops" type of reaction.
This also made people suspicious, to a point, of just how much effort AGD was putting in. While the AIR and RT valves are no more dated than the rest of the technology currently being used, as has been pointed out numerous times, people seem to think that AGD might have been able to turn out something somehow better. Just like with the chopping issue, people began to suspect that AGD was either too stubborn, or too haughty to attempt something new. These people feel that AGD's valves should have been evolving right along with the other valves and systems, regardless of whether or not it is really feasible.
Another thing that leads poeple, that I have spoken with, to have little faith in AGD is the fact that what upgrades there are often put the total package price well above other markers that are already more "capapble" out of the box, especially considering the used market. To them, mags now seem an enthusiast marker - something you get as a project, or for old time's sake.
Of course, with a few exceptions, none of us are privy to AGD's finacial information, so we can only speculate. I am sure they are riding it out just fine. But, for all of the nostalgic types, for whom the mid 90s were the good old days, it can be concerning to see what has become of the once monolithic AGD.
I may not agree with all of these opinions, but, I can understand why some people get these feelings of despair.
This also made people suspicious, to a point, of just how much effort AGD was putting in. While the AIR and RT valves are no more dated than the rest of the technology currently being used, as has been pointed out numerous times, people seem to think that AGD might have been able to turn out something somehow better. Just like with the chopping issue, people began to suspect that AGD was either too stubborn, or too haughty to attempt something new. These people feel that AGD's valves should have been evolving right along with the other valves and systems, regardless of whether or not it is really feasible.
Another thing that leads poeple, that I have spoken with, to have little faith in AGD is the fact that what upgrades there are often put the total package price well above other markers that are already more "capapble" out of the box, especially considering the used market. To them, mags now seem an enthusiast marker - something you get as a project, or for old time's sake.
Of course, with a few exceptions, none of us are privy to AGD's finacial information, so we can only speculate. I am sure they are riding it out just fine. But, for all of the nostalgic types, for whom the mid 90s were the good old days, it can be concerning to see what has become of the once monolithic AGD.
I may not agree with all of these opinions, but, I can understand why some people get these feelings of despair.
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