I’m a little surprised suppressors weren’t integrated into military rifles sooner. If I fire one unsuppressed shot without hearing protection my hearing is drastically muffled for the rest of the day. I would think that avoiding partial deafness in combat would be a real advantage.
Suppressors also reduce muzzle flash, reduce that distinctive dust cloud when firing from the prone, and allow the shooter to hear fire commands (and allows you to hear where the enemy’s firing from)
The only problem is that the direct-impingement gas system on ARs funnel really nasty ammonia-containing gas directly into your eyes and nose while firing. Horrible stuff.
Length and weight