Bling is for leveling, so you can complete challenges without having to reconfigure.
As Kabob pointed out, Bling forces you to give up Scavenger. And if you aren't good enough to use iron sights, you'll probably be shooting and missing so much you'll use up your limited ammo, or you won't survive long enough for it to matter (which means you aren't really that dangerous).
Either way, it's quite difficult to get anywhere with Bling. It seems nice at first and maybe a good way of leveling the playing field for certain people, but in the end it prevents you from being a real threat.
The point you keep missing is that there is a new trade-off if you use bling, and it's a pretty big trade-off. That's why it's not unbalanced. It's balanced by the advantage everyone else gets from not using bling. I don't feel like I'm at a disadvantage because I don't use bling; I think sleight of hand is better.
One thing I noticed a lot this weekend (at least 3-4 times): People are getting on opposite teams in domination (probably other game modes too, but I only play domination) and trying to work together to get nukes. They both set up tactical insertions in some remote corner and start killing each other taking turns I'm guessing, or one person will do it one round and the other does it the next. The way I noticed it was I kept seeing the same skull icon when your teammates get killed over and over again off to the side of the map in Underpass in the back alley, where no one was fighting.
I've made it my mission to ruin these attempts. I killed the same 2 guys in 3-4 different spots attempting this and they finally left the game. The funny thing is, they get REALLY pissed at me when I stop it and bitch like I'm doing something wrong. It's actually very satisfying to ruin it for them.
Not only that but in CoD 4 you could get ammo from anyone using a weapon of the same caliber. In MW2 you've got to have scavenger or the exact same weapon/configuration to get ammo from it (which I think kind of sucks honestly).
As for chopper gunner vs. AC-130 both have their uses. I think that the chopper is more usable but easier to shoot down. It lasts longer and while you don't have a monsterous blast radius your shots don't take nearly as long to hit your target (which sucks when aiming at a moving target). I've gotten both from care packages and I prefer the chopper, especially on Wasteland (it's freaking deadly).
Was playing in the level with the bridges and I swear, there were like 6 care packages that nobody could get to. I realize this is the players' faults but it really sucks when you are running around trying to not get shot and don't have time to find a perfect spot. Some spots even in the middle of a field look great then you look up and realize there's a bridge.
Haha, me and my friend were laughing last night at all the people that throw the care packages under the bridges. It happens, though. I did it once when I first started playing.
Also on the airport map people throw the care packages inside the building which can be very difficult to get the packages to come through the windows.
What's really bad about it is people will sit and stare at it like it's going to eventually fall down and are easy kills.
In defense of the airport level, I shoot out the ceiling glass and try to drop the flare directly under. I get the package 50% of the time. Why don't I just go outside? Because people are usually watching the tarmac and I feel very vulnerable out there. I'd rather not get a care package than die and/or leave the action.
Haha, me and my friend were laughing last night at all the people that throw the care packages under the bridges. It happens, though. I did it once when I first started playing.
Also on the airport map people throw the care packages inside the building which can be very difficult to get the packages to come through the windows.
What's really bad about it is people will sit and stare at it like it's going to eventually fall down and are easy kills.
I do the same thing at Terminal. Shoot out a window and throw the marker. What helps is look straight up and position yourself right below the window. Then look straight down and throw, it doesn't bounce. I've gotten all but 1 of the care packages I've dropped that way (of course, the one I didn't get was an AC-130...).
I lied earlier, Underpass is my least favorite level. I HATE that level! I've dropped a package on the bridge above as well without realizing it.
Rundown is another I'll add to the "I don't like it" list.
BTW Mugs, what's your GT? I think I added your GF/Wife's "Cant Standjuh" but I never see it online. Is that what you still use?
I've had AC-130 a few times now, and I really like it. Once I got used to leading guys by about 10 feet I got a ton of kills with the middle cannon.
Been noticing a lot of people using grenade launchers and shotguns lately.
And I found out the hard way that some areas of wasteland are radioactive and will kill you.
WTF, I just threw down a care package and as soon as it dropped one of my teammates stole it. Not cool. It'd be nice if it at least gave you a few seconds before your teammates could steal it.
I didn't have my headset on, so I didn't have a chance to tell him to stop. Oh well.