[Marek_Tucan]

Just few notes re "why did the Arabs buy them". I have already explained the term "Monkey mode" and why did I use it (ironically). However few points to consider:
-What Western tanks were being available to Iraq, Syria et al that were better than T-72? There were M60 variants, maybe some Chieftains, Centurions, Vickers tanks, AMX-30 or OF-40 (forget Leo-1s, German arms export policies would prevent it). Which od these tanks, in its basic variant, is better armed, armored and mobile than even the original T-72 Ural? I can think of only one of them as better protected and that one was by far the most expensive.
What guns were available to them? The longrod APFSDS rounds were in their beginning in the West, mostly secret, and all they'd be able to procure would be 105mm and 120mm HEAT, HESH or older APDS. Suddenly the APFSDS of Soviet 125mm gun starts looking like a killer in comparison, even if it is all the USSR would allow for export, IE BM-12, 15 and 17 (and no, WarPac allies didn't get better - BM-15 for us back then). However USSR itself, in the period when it sold T-72 and T-72A derivatives, was already producing T-80A (ie T-80B hull mounted with T-80U turret without ERA) and T-72B (both of which, btw seem to be better protected than M1 variants before HA version).
So your choice on purchase isn't "T-72 vs Abrams", but "T-72M or M1 vs M60A1" and not "M829A1 vs BM-42" but "BM-15 vs. M392". Suddenly, more frontal protection and more potent ammo at a good price seem to look like a good deal, won't you agree? The T-72 was the best they could have realistically gotten and, if properly employed, might have posed a serious problem to the Coalition forces, esp. those with AYMX-30 or no armor. Luckily, they were not properly employed, but try a ground warfare at that time against say Finns or Yugoslavia and you'll end up with plenty of problems.

EDIT: Few figures:
M60A1: Glacis some 110-143 mm at 55 degrees, Front Turret cast shape offering some 300mm RHA. 53 tons and some 10.6 kW per ton. 105mm M68 gun. Huge.
AMX-30: glacis 80@60, turret cast, ca. 160/200mm RHA. 36 tons and 14.9 kW/ton. 105mm gun.
Centurion Mk13: glacis 120/60, front turret ca. 220-250mm. 52 tons, 9.4 kW/ton. 105mm L7.
Chieftain Mk5: glacis 120@72, front turret ca. 380mm. 55 tons, 10.2 kW/ton. 120mm L11 gun.
Vickers Mk3: glacis ca. 80@55, front turret ca 120-150mm. 40 tons, 13.5 kW/ton. 105mm L7 gun.
OF-40: glacis 70@60, turret ca. 300mm RHA. 46 tons, 13.5 kW/ton. 105mm L7 gun.
T-72: glacis composite, ca. 300mm KE/400 CE, turret cast, 380-400mm RHA. 41 tons, 14kW/ton. 125mm gun.
T-72M1: glacis composite, ca. 400 vs KE, 500 vs CE, turret composite, similar values. 43 tons, 13.5 kW/ton. 125mm gun.

And ammo?
105mm L64 (UK, 1978): 310mm @ 2000m
105mm M735 (US, 1976): 300mm @ 2000m
105mm DM-23 (DEU, 1978): 310 @ 2000
105mm OFL105G1 (FRA, 1981): 300-350 @ 2000
125mm BM-12 (USSR, 1968): 315 @ 2000
125mm BM-15 (USSR, 1968): 340 @ 2000
125mm BM-17 (USSR, all steel, 1970): 330 @ 2000

So which one looks better?