Well recoil can be achieved with an airsoft model pretty easy as well, so don't count that out
I personally have two I made and both have ATRC from RCTA. Funny thing is, I still have the stock Taigen board.
Fragmentation should be a bit less now, but remember a big player in the IR game is gone whether we like them or not. Less is not always better in this fact. Either way as you said most do not stick to the HL or Taigen for battling, so this shouldn't be too much of an issue. I am however watching the new Taipan2014 board from RCTA! Kevin is working on some really nice stuff and just released the RC2TG board for our Taigen systems