Nerf N-Strike vs Elite Round 1: Retaliator (Aus version) vs Recon CS-6

This post starts off a series of ongoing posts in which I compare the original N-Strike blasters to their updated Elite versions. Expect the Elite version to win, but more importantly note the differences between them.

For the first ever Elite vs N-Strike post, we'll be comparing the 'basic' blasters of the Retaliator (Aus version) and Recon.

Aesthetics:
The Retaliator resembles a generic assault rifle you'd find in CoD games. Combine that with the awesome Elite colour scheme and you get one fine looking blaster.
The Recon somewhat resembles a tacticooled light rifle you'd find in CoD, with flip up iron sights and a grenade launcher (although of course the Recon doesn't launch a grenade equivalent). The colour scheme isn't great. but it looks decent.
I far prefer the Retal, but as usual I don't score on aesthetics.
Accessories:
The Retaliator comes with itself, a stock, a barrel, a foregrip and a 12 clip (mag) with 12 darts.
The Recon comes with itself, a stock, a barrel, a light, a sight and a 6 clip (mag) and 6 darts.
Although the Recon comes with more stuff, the Retaliator's 12 clip (mag) is more valuable than the 6 clip (mag), thus equalises this round.
Range/Power:
The Retaliator, as mentioned in the earlier review, gets a consistent 14m with the barrel on, and 11-16m with the barrel off.
The Recon gets around 10-11m with the barrel on, and 10-13m with the barrel off.
Because the Retaliator's ranges are greater in both aspects, it wins this round.
Accuracy:
The Recon's accuracy is not good without the barrel, and only slightly improved with the barrel.
The Retaliator's accuracy is non-existent without the barrel, but surprisingly good with the barrel.
Because the Retaliator's accuracy is so much better with the barrel on, and both are equally bad without the barrel, the Retaliator wins this round.
Usability:
The Retaliator is easy to use, reliable, and all of its components are useful. This is rare for tacticooled blasters as often there are useless accessories. On the other hand, the Recon's sight and light are not very useful (or not useful at all), and the barrel hinders more than it helps. Additionally, although I have not experienced a large number of Recon jams, many, many people have experienced the Recon jamming. Likewise I have never had my Retal jam, but there haven't been complaints about Retal jamming. Not only is the Retal more useful than the Recon, but also more reliable, handing it the round on a silver platter.
Rate of Fire:
Both blasters have the same shell, thus assuming the difference in spring strength is negligible (which it is for older and stronger users given the difference is quite small, and the stock springs are really weak anyway) they'll have the same ROF.
Capacity:
The Retaliator holds 12 in its clip (mag), while the Recon only holds 6. Obviously the Retaliator wins this round.
Value for Money/Availability:
The Recon is available just about everywhere, usually for $30. The Retaliator is not very common yet, usually at $40 or more. Although the Recon is cheaper and easier to find than the Retaliator, the Retaliator is so much better than the Recon that its better value for money equalises this round.

Overall, the Retaliator has won 4 rounds, the Recon none, with 3 ties. Thus the Retaliator is the far better blaster than the Recon. This is not surprising, given that the Retaliator is 'Elite' but it is interesting to see that there are no aspects in which the Recon is better than the Retaliator.

So after the first Elite vs N-Strike post, the score is:
Elite: 1 -- N-Strike: 0

It will be interesting to see if N-Strike has any superior blasters, or if it can just managed a draw.