As I was puttering around on the little bit of stuff I haven't had to box up, trying to make a new display, a thought crossed my mind. I've always been one for removable gear on figures. If the choice was between two figures, and one had a molded-on helmet, while the other had removable, I'd choose the removable. Similarly, if you offered two otherwise identical vehicles, but one had a compartment for troop storage, while the other was just a hollow closed-up block, I'd pick the one with the compartment.
Why?
As a kid, the APC was probably my favorite vehicle I owned, mostly because it held so many figures. But why does this matter? Once the top is on, you can't tell the figures are in there, so you might as well just pretend it's loaded up with troops. And why does it matter if a lot of the kit comes off? More than 90% of the time, other than when I first get the figure, I never remove the helmet, webgear, backpack, sidearm, whatever. So why do I want the figures to have that capability? I can say now that it's because it makes for easier customs, since I can start with more of a blank slate. But what was the draw when I was a kid, when I still rarely removed the kibble?
The only answer I can think of is potential playability. While it may not be something I ever use, it's just nice to know that it's a possibility. That still doesn't quite explain why I prefer my Warthog full of Renegades and other troops, rather than empty, even though it's closed up so only I know it has figures in it.

Kind of an open-ended, two part, vague question, but just something that struck me and I thought I'd ask.

I agree with you totally. As a kid I still went for the firgures with the most gear first. Although I used the APC to transport figures to the lake everyday, so it did serve a purpose to me. And of course, all those extra weapons and gear got lost in the sand at the same lake. So maybe I would have been better off with more molded on stuff.

Its why I loved the wharthog and night rhino - held a ton o figures and gear. To this day I have my steel brigade troops in it all belted in with guns ready,,,
I think it justifies it purpose in our minds. I mean there are allot of 1/18th military models but teh Joe vehicles are made for Figures... another great example is the desert fox 6x SO much playability = so fun!

On the weapons question: i was the weird kid who liked the molded on stuff because I couldn't lose it. All my Joes needed was a Gun in each hand to be awesome. Back packs we bonus and I pretended thats where teh rope (Fishing line) was kept - Someone in the team always had rope!

Steve

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But that's just it, you *know* you've got the guys in there. To get them in there, you had to play with them and it, enhancing the enjoyment of both products exponentially. Even tho you may not be playing with it at the moment, you've got the memory of playing with you every time you look at them; which you don't have in the non-opening/removeable hypothesis.

Your question is kinda its own answer as you're sorta asking, 'What's the difference between these two things if we ignore or remove what the difference is?'

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You hit the nail right on the head.

Potential playability is what it's all about. The more avenues for you to use your imagination while playing, the better and more fulfilling fun!

When I was a young lad, I was annoyed by the fact that when the turret was removed from the HISS (Hyena to me) , there was room for a couple of figures in there, a case of the "hollow closed-up block". What a waste!
I also looked at my Z Force Mobat, imagining making those front hatches work (although I am now admittedly glad that I didn't take a heated-up chisel to them!) But still, it would've been nice to be able to have figures sitting in them.

As for why it's comforting to have have a vehicle full of unseen troops, I'm not sure, although I like AV's theory.

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For vehicles, I like moving parts. I never even thought about crew capacity. I loved the way the wheels worked on the Swampsmasher. I wish I still had one. I remember playing with the Asp a lot, too. All the moving parts made it a lot of fun, despite the fact that I didn't have anything that could tow it. Of course, my favorite part of getting new vehicles was assembling them.

For figures I liked the removeable gear, but I loved it if the gear was interconnected. Blowtorch was one of my favorites. Not only did he have the removeable helmet and mask, but the mask plugged into that little detail thing on his chest. And, his gun plugged into a hose, that plugged into his backpack. I loved that kind of thing.

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I feel the same way, a Rhino full of 25th Joes just isn't the same as a Rhino full of air and a bit of dust. Speaking of, anyone ever do that thing where you would attach two vehicles together with tape and fishing line? I remember making an X wing/Humvee that would go anywhere, and it was Luke Skywalker's favorite vehicle.

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That was the reason my stun is played with to it's death. it could hold at least 11 cobra guys.

Also when I was a kid, swords and knives that could go into sheaths (sp?), was just pure gold.

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