junglyAEO,
Your logic seems to be interesting. I think what you said is that when we find a cheaper, similarly sized vehicle that does better, we are wrong. Or does that mean when the USMC managed to find a machine that had half the efficiency at twice the price that they were wrong?
If your Doctor used the logic you use, he would amputate your feet to cure your hangnail.
With similar logic, several Marines said to me that the 53E is a "heavy helicopter" and a V-22 is a "medium" so they don't compare! Same deck spot factor, half the cost, twice the payload, 150% of the transport capability, but not a better choice.
Paco, Of course we should compare the 609 to an S-76, otherwise we would have no contest! How about comparing it to a 206 to be sure it looks good? Or maybe a Bell 47?