Army went into Senate Estimates, for example, and without even a smirk told them that armoured vehicles were beyond the capabilities of mere reservists, despite decades of proof to the contrary, and despite plenty of examples in the forces of our allies
Wheels and roundabouts. Was exactly the same argument used by the RAAF when they gave up the Mustang for jets. And I know from personal experience the view still held currency in the RAAF when some attempted to get a slot on 748s as reservists (this well prior to the RAAFs current reserve policy). When all these arguments are trotted out it needs to be remembered that there may well be a mix of politics, inter service jealousies, egotism, personal advancement, budget, a belief due inexperience, or any number of other reasons behind the argument being put at the time. Even outright lies to achieve an aim are not unknown.
In 1971 a chap talked to the RAAF to see if it was possible to swap from dark to light blue as he wanted to fly fixed wing. In the dark once you were helo that was pretty much it. The RAAF conceded it was possible to swap over but Caribous would the only airframe on offer, and there he would stay.