All because your stuff is cheaper. Bleeeh. Nah. We can talk about this forever. Let's say that both periods have their advantages and disadvantages?
Seriously, I'd love to do ACW. For the exact reason you described. Uniformity is better, you can do more authenic campaigning stuff. Seriously, I'd love it. Sadly, I live in Europe. What's the deal with Europe? Well, for one, people tend to be much less connected to their history. And we have less space. Seriously. I live in one of the densely populated countries of the world - Nothing to do about it. I'm not going to worry about that. I worry about the stuff that I can change, and I believe that we should look at every re-enactor as an individual, and then at his group, and not higher. It's not the fault of fantastic-authentic-looking group that there are two farby groups on both flanks. Just like it's not your fault when someone takes a picture of you in the line, and there's a guy with modern glasses from another group in the background. Anywaaaay....
We have the best campaigner look and our officers was elected by popularity. Most of time military experience mean more popular. Unlike napoleonic, whoever had the money get the rank. Pft
That's not trueeee. Nein. You people have those 'character' guys as well that walk around in lieutenant-general-uniform that nobody really likes. Same here. And same goes for company officers. People are elected by vote on popularity and capability. The only difference being (Yes) the DI group where theoretically it's done like that, but in practice it's entirely up to the CO/president (same guy). But we don't like that group anyway. Bleh.