I can think of 2 reasons to have the starter on the engine. The first? My friend had just started his MW44 when the rubber grommet thing fell out of the wand & started bouncing around in the fuselage getting closer & closer to the inlet [X(] Fortunately it didn't get sucked in.

The second is if you use the wand you cannot have a FOD screen fitted to the front of the engine & the Wren screen is the neatest around.

I don't think the lack of auto cool down is an issue, the same friend has a Lambert Micro Turbine & it has 9 hours of running so far with no problems so far.

Full auto start? I thought given the cost of a turbine what's a few bucks extra? I was ready to buy the full auto start MkIII when the Super Sport was released. The auto start means less things for me to stuff up! I did leave the gas tank out & start from a Coleman. - John.