[EricH]

As I recall, the last time 330 smoked an FP was when we had the 6V ones given in the KOP instead of the 12V ones, if then. The time before then was deliberate... Reliability, if the system is designed right, is just as good as with a CIM.

Sure, you need a gearbox with an FP. A CIM is about 3 pounds, IIRC, and an FP is about one pound. If your gearbox (say, an AM or BB planetary) is less than 2 pounds, you're lighter for close to equivalent functionality.