I still can't look at the AK-12 than a really souped up AK-74M.
The normal troop are already lugging it around, right?
Isn't it? It seems that as time passes, the Russians are deigning their weapons with more nods to American weaponry with the 5.45x39, using AR-15 accessories on AK's, lots of rails, optics, rifle modularity etc.
And on our side (at least in the private sector) we are shifting slightly to the Russian mantra adopting heavier bullets (7.62x35), rail running bolt carriers (vs the old sliding block in tube style), higher capacity magazines (40 count), heavier built guns etc.