Pardon my ignorance, but is this just a Gen II Tavor? Other than the mag release and new trigger, I fail to see what makes this a "new" rifle.
It essentially is a Gen II, but I think the changes are substantial. I am much more interested in an X95 than the Tavor.
In addition to what you said, they changed the design of how the parts around the action fit together. The military version has a significantly shorter length of pull and the pistol grip is much closer to the magazine well. I think the civilian version still has a shorter LOP than the Tavor, but they did add a really thick butt pad to increase overall length. They also moved the charging handle rearward because the military version has a 13" barrel. I believe the gas system and action are the same, but I don't know if any parts are interchangeable.
I think a MD compliant X95 is going to be downright goofy. A real X95 (MG) is something like 23" long IIRC. To put that in perspective its the same size as a MP5K w/ the stock extended. <- reread that and let it sink in. It makes a Tavor look huge in comparison. With the Tavor needing something pinned to its longer 18" version just to meet MDs 29" law the X95 will have to have something comically long pinned to the end. IMO, the appeal of the X95 is like that of the PS90 = its TINY as a proper SBR (and I want one of both - an PS90 SBR is what I missed pre-2013)
An orig X95 w/ something like a pinned Specwar K would be the the bomb Should meet the 29" rule and will avoid a second stamp (SBR) too.
Has to meet NFA rules too, so you won't see sub 16" barrel X95 unless they start offering factory SBRs.
I was looking around MDS to do some reading on the X95 and found this thread.
We have a MD compliant version inbound for T&E, cant wait to put it through its paces. I agree with smdub, removing the goofy extension and pinning a suppressors break on it is the way to go.
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Now only if there delivery calendar matched our ?? LOL