[Growltigga]

Magnum,

My reasons are purely personal. Strategic in 4th edition is much simplified, but too simplified IMHO. Tactical combat looks very similar and the research tree is very interesting, in the respect that different races can research radically different technologies, rather than everybody kind'of going for the same thing.. a certain amoutn of balancing appears to have happened as well, for example, the power of fighters has been greatly reduced so that a squadron may fly past a battle ship and do not much more than knock down a few shields, in turn, the battleship may only pick one or two fo the buzzbugs off - this is better IMHO

My main concern I suppose is that I was a MAJOR fan of 3rd edition, even though I acknowledge the record keeping could sometimes get like sitting an accountancy exam

I also really liked the timeline, to the extent that I love the Khanate of Orion (aka the Tabbies)

Re purchasing it? I cannot really help you here given I am in England. I ordered it through my local hobby shop as I decided I wanted to give them some business, in north america, I guess credit card would be better if only for the intrinsic insurance and what we call 'section 75 protection'