Abo

The smaller bullets have a higher velocity and a flatter trajectory.
They are also lighter... a soldier can carry more ammo.

The best assault rifle, on the planet for numerous reasons and
by a large margin (imho) is the Australian Lithgow ATRAX...
as issued to Australian soldiers, airmen, and sailors.

Photographer unknown:

LDB415 Loc: Houston south suburb

There are many reasons to choose a bullpup. I'm sure your arguments are sound and at least close to exact with an apparent slight bit of bias included, and I mean that in a good way as people should be biased toward what's theirs and is good. The only change I would make, and possibly only positive for me, would be the portion where the left hand is braced would be about 10-12 degrees more toward the vertical than what is shown. And I'd go with the variation shown in either the center or last photos I think. Not that I'd turn down any of them.

I'm guessing your comments are from personal experience while serving. In that case, thank you for serving.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

A good comparison of the 5.56mm and the .308 NATO: https://ammo.com/comparison/308-vs-556

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

During two years in Vietnam I only put my M14 on auto twice off the range - once on outpost duty just to prove to a Lt that I could hit something on auto (empty C-rat case he tossed down the mountain side, hit it) and once during an alert they called for us to shoot up the mountain side behind our compound when some trip flares went off - a daylight patrol several hours later found dead monkeys.

I was a HQ type in the Tactical Operations Center for the Qui Nhon Sub-Area Command of 1st Log. but we only had one company of infantry who guarded the main ammo dump for the province out of 14,000 Army in and around Qui Nhon. So we did TDY outpost and patrol, reaction force, guard etc. and after Tet the guard and reaction force was at least 4 nights a week and often with alerts the other nights.

Abo

I was a soldier, however I saw no active duty and have not been outside of Australia.
Also I substantially predate the weapon you see above (that is based on the old Styer Aug)

As a soldier I was issued the Lithgow L1A1... AKA "SLR" (Not "Single Lens Reflex"...
but Self Loading Rifle ) As good as the SLR was, it was not a weapon that could be
operated effectively single handed like the brilliant ATRAX:

LDB415 Loc: Houston south suburb

It doesn't matter when you served or what you were equipped with. Anyone who gives to serve their country deserves the thanks of their countrymen and any recognition they receive from others who appreciate and value what they did. I appreciate and value anyone who served their country. And yes, the L1A1 is definitely not a one handed tool but it is definitely a fine piece of kit.