For the most part you can purchase GBBR's for around the same price as most popular AEG's. GBBR's are coming out of their infant stages right now and are becoming more and more popular as the months go by. They definitely take some patience to deal with and being some what mechanically inclined will help you tremendously.
In the next year you'll probably start seeing more popular manufactures coming out with their versions of GBBR's. Right now the most popular manufactures are Western Arms, WE-Tech, KJW, AGM (No longer in business), VFC. Rumor has it that Classic Army is working on one now.
Yeah,
CA tends to take a great idea and fuck it up by doing a piss poor job.
My biggest complaint with the GBBR's is cooldown on full auto, and the mag capacity. Regular airsoft games are just not meant for 30rnd mags.Yes, you can get by with them but they limit you when some kid with an AEG is raining down on you with a set of hi caps.
When the manufacturers find a better way of pressurizing and storing gas most of the issues will be eleviated, until then..they exist..
I have said it a million times but if the manufactures put the gas inside of the gun, instead of the mags..they would really be helping themselves and airsofters out. The mags would be cheaper too.
With regards to the WE 4168, it's a sick gun and I have mostly heard good stuff, more so with people using the co2 mags. Just watch out though, the extra forces with the co2 cause a lot of things to wear away quicker.