What’s the POINT of Orange Tips?

OK, let’s set a few things straight.

#1 – The law states that all Airsoft Guns sold in the USA must have a minimum of 1/4″ of the muzzle/tip painted safety orange.

#2 – It doesn’t say ANYTHING about whether it is “legal” to paint over the orange or take off the orange piece and replace it with a piece I bought on the interned from an Asian distributor.

#3 – Airsoft Guns with OUT the orange tip truly look SOOOO much better!

My question is why do airsoft fields allow “non-orange” weapons on their field? The point of the orange tip is to designate to everyone else on the field (and to the officers that may look) that you aren’t really a FOOL and have a real gun, and to give the rest of us a little measure of confidence. YES, I know this sounds overly paranoid, however when you have been around, using, and training with real firearms for as long as I have you quickly learn that it is the “overly paranoid” who still have all their fingers and toes. 

So if the INTENT of the law is for ALL Airsoft Guns to have a non-lethal marking on the tips, and if it is really the safe and smarter way to go, and Airsoft Fields are the forefront of our sport, shouldn’t they all be forcing us as a community to obey the law? If we do not, and some fool gets shot by a cop or a neighbor for shooting their gun somewhere what is the backlash against “us” likely to be/ For those of you in rural settings you can find places to go play damm near anywhere. For those of us in significantly more urban areas, our choices are very limited.

So, I would like to hear what are YOUR thoughts? Do I have a point here, or is this a case of misplaced paranoia?