"why the Russians go with the simpler, faster,lighter technique while we seem to use a more complex system "
You don't really need to ask that do you? Its because complexity = cost overruns = more profit
Remember - whats good for the corporation is good for the country!
Whilst this point may well be valid I would like to think a major factor would be reliability and hopefully less maintenance.
Is the pencil vs ball point pen statements more to do with fiction? My bank gave me one of the alleged biro that can work in conditions that are never ever experienced here in sunny Torquay, nice pen but I'm told they are quite expensive.
