i think that tippmann is making certain things in cheaper plastic, to make the marker a bit cheaper too, cause when they first came out i paid well over 350 for mine, now you say there going brand new for 180? plus im sure tippmann knows that alot of people upgrade and milsim out the markers so y not pay for the base of the marker a bit cheaper? casue if it came with t-tech upgrades and and e-grip and all the other cool stuff that you can get it will cost you about 500 or more to buy so making the a-5 cheaper is giving you more money to spend on milsim or performance upgrades