ShyTorque, Spruit's attempt at 'educating' you was downright hilarious! Do they have any idea who you are?
I agree with your point; the tiltrotor concept is in some ways like the autogyro: a courageous attempt at combining the best of a helicopter with the best of an airplane. Sadly, it ends up a compilation of the worst traits of the two modes of flight. Makes you wonder how Bell/Agusta is going to do with their 609. At least it will be able to autorotate. The FAA would never be as cavalier as the Pentagon has been in waiving that requirement. Or would they?
What does the V-22 exactly give the Marines? Speed? Range? Over a short range the Osprey's speed advantage over a helicopter is negligible. And why would they need long range? We're not fighting the USSR anymore. There's got to be a secure airfield within a hundred miles or so of any battlefied, where Marines can get out of a plane and into a helicopter for the last leg of the journey. Nobody likes airport layovers but c'mon...