For what it's worth, the logic to integrating the Full Auto folks into rifles and handguns respectively is to "normalize" FA somewhat. There's a lot of folks (including yours truly) that never even considered going the FA path, and I think the intent to give it a little higher exposure, especially to the new entrants to the hobby, is a good one.
From a political point of view, FA DOES need to be integrated more tightly into the shooting community, I think. You don't win a battle by staying on the defensive, and so I think the cultural normalization of FA folks is a good goal. The antis and fence sitters already can't tell the dif between semi and full auto rifles, so there's not like we have a lot to lose.
Further, the post traffic on Auto seems to be kinda low relatively speaking compared to Rifles and handguns, so it's not likely to be very disruptive to the existing environs, I don't think.
Thats all on the PRO side.
On the CON side...
The point that the legalities are a lot more involved is a good one -- I'm not certain that it needs much more than a (possibly floating) FAQ thread though.
I'll admit my major objection on first hearing the proposal was that the mindset, intent, and technology was so very different between rifle and machine gun. I could very much see the logic between combing Evil Sniper Gun conversation with Happy Benchrest Gun and Cro-Magnon Bambi Killing Hunting Gun conversation, because of the technical similarities. I didn't feel that was the case with the FA stuff.... Oleg assuaged my fears there a bit by reemphasizing that the subgun stuff would be classed with pistols, the assault rifle/battle rifle stuff with rifles.
My considered position so far --
Political Goals -- Good.
Practicality of Solution -- Undecided.
-K
This might work.