I/O or OB ...

Ford or Chevy? Tastes great, or less filling? Aluminum or glass? Mono or braid?

There are many passionate opinions about this. A bunch of guys will tell you that you are just plain crazy if you get a ___ instead of a ___.

Here are my passionate opinions:

1. An I/O is a pile of rust waiting to happen, whether it be Volvo or Merc.
2. An I/O is heavy, but, hey, the big 4-stroke OB's are heavy too, and they sit up higher than an I/O so are more inclined to induce teeter-tottering.
3. A modern EFI I/O will run forever, or until it turns to rust (see #1 above). Modern 4-stroke OB will probably run a nice long time as well.
4. Motorbox taking up cockpit space is a PITA. Having to fish around an OB is a PITA. Choose your poison.
5. You can fix a lot of stuff on an I/O (except the EFI) while on the water, without having to hang your a__ off the end of the boat.
6. OB's run closer to design limits than I/O's, so are more finicky WRT fuel quality and maintenance.
7. OB's are more macho and cool, for whatever reason, maybe because your boat has a big "thing" hanging off the back end :p
8. I/O is really quiet. Modern 4-stroke OB is really quiet, plus the noise-maker is farther away from the cockpit.
9. Volvo make good I/O. Merc make so-so I/O (yes, I've owned both)
10. You can plumb a cabin heater off of an I/O, can't do that with an OB.
11. OB can't build up fuel fumes in the bilge and blow up (not that I've ever actually heard of that happening).
12. You can tip an OB all the way up out of the water, can't do that with an I/O.