Hi there
I do not consider myself a "Tamiya hater", as you put it, having at one time owned the Tamiya full option tanks myself - four of them to be exact - the Sherman, Tiger I & II plus the Panther G.
A couple of points there on the Torro Professional Metal Edition KT - as I actually own one - it does not weigh 18-20lb, it comes in at 10lb (remember its 1/16 scale

) and it has the heavy duty 3:1 reduction gearboxes which are built like brick privvies, so goes as well if not better outside or in than my old Tamiya KT did, so enough of the "mobile pillbox" argument
The recoil is the same as my old Tamiya KT, as in gun barrel recoil plus hull recoil, which is a little sharper granted but I cannot see it wrecking those brick privvies anytime soon.
As far as the sound system goes, yes it is big fat granny pants compared to the Tamiya sound system, but this is no longer my main concern (and this is the point I feel you missed) as I now run 1/8 and 1/6 tanks, with the 1/16 stuff either there as table dressing or for the great unwashed to have a play with while I`m banging off pyros with the 1/8 Mark-1-Tanks Tiger I.
In other words, my requirements have changed, and as far as I could see I was merely giving an honest experience/opinions having been on both sides of the fence, so to speak...
I suppose the whole Tamiya/Heng Pong debate is a bit like which calibre is best, 7.62mm or 5.56mm
