My turn-- Been using an A5 for about a year now. This I know from my own experiences: All I do is play with either Tippman 98 or A5 equipped guys. While it is true that the Flatline can cause barrel breaks, its mostly because of poor paint to barrel matching. The barrel likes a certain type of size and paint shell. For example -- I paly with a guy who ran Diablo formula 13 paint through his flatline A5 all day. Not only did he back me up with 10 to 15 balls per second - full auto with an E grip, but he broke NO paint -- 1400 rnds. Now he ran out of Diablo and switched to a different brand , I think it was from PMI, and all he did was break every other ball. So the Flatline in full auto does work , it just is a finicky barrel. But when you do have it sorted out, you will out range almost every other player on the field. Just know the limitations of the gun,barrel, and paint at the outter limits of distance. You will have a 50 to 75 foot advantage over a non Flatline equipped gun and thats all you need to pick him off. Flatlines do not like high wind as well. If you "cant" the gun to the left while aiming , you can "hook" the balls around a tree to pick someone off... Seen that happen to myself, can't believe he nailed me like that. The A5 will have a higher rate of fire over the custom 98, fact. The A5 needs no electric hopper. I have as many options available to bolt onto the A5 as I do with my AR15 -- Stocks, forward grips, sights, slings, ect....Diffinately go to that above mentioned site for the A5owners group. Spend time sifting through the posts--they are hard core about that marker and honest about its pros and cons. For the record, I have two barrels I use. One is a J&J 14" cermamic coated and a Lapco 12" Bigshot. I use a 92/4500 psi High pressure air remote system with the Formula 13 paint. Only 2 balls broke in about 4000 rnds. Gotta a BSA 30mm red dot sight , and a JCS folding MP style stock. Get the A5 .