On the side note - dude, you gotta really think of working in actual gun design! The airsoft companies would rip eachothers throats to get hands on your designs!)
I've talked to an airsoft gun developer once. He told me that most people who play airsoft rather have existing weapons and trick them out with existing accessories. While I can imagine that, I would be the exception of the rule. I would love to have a different weapon that pretty much no one else would have.
I am with you on this subjuct, even tho I haven't even started, to be honest)