DemoSam,
Now you went and done it. Just watch, this topic is always good for a spark or two, but good point none-the-less. Probably the single biggest "life depends on it" game going, would have to be man hunting man. Being a former participant in such a game, I would have to say, that at no time in my life, has any material item ever brought me more of a warm and fuzzy feeling, than my M-14 and my M-16, both push feeds.
For me, one characteristic that a weapon must possess, in order to win a "sudden death" challenge, where both combatants are faced with retrieving spilled ammo from the ground and getting the first round off, would be the ability to drop a single round directly into the chamber, closing the bolt and KILL whatever it is that is trying to kill me! For the most part, push feeds meet and exceed this requirement.
Okay, most CRF's can be modified to provide a direct round feed if needed, but based on my personal experience in repairing both types of weapons over many years, should a failure to feed occur when feeding directly from the magazine, more often than not, the problem will occur to a CRF weapon... There, that ought to just about do it. Let the fire storm begin.
Regards,
Malm