I assumed that future configuration didn't matter from the way they aggregate all three categories into a single "assault weapon" category and then reference that for the bans, but your point is well-taken.Well it's useful for a number of reasons... The first being that ANY assault long gun can at anytime be modified to have all three evil features. So if you want to put a folding stock on your AR-15 or AK-47, or your decide you want to make it shorter than 29", or even if you later decide to put a flash suppressor on it, there is NO WAY they can apply the "copy cat" standard to you.