In all honesty ddaryl, hand on my heart, I would take the non-licenced cars but with a damage model - J&L (an upgraded version of TOCA for you Euros) is just an incredible game, and I\'ve still play it long after GT2 has now gone on the shelf.
However, I do understand that since very few people have played a racing game with an accurate physical damage model, most would take the licenced cars.
My only problem is that J&L proves that you CAN have both - a licence and a great racing/damage model. And like I said, I would gladly take half the number of cars in GT3 (ie eliminate those brands that don\'t want their cars damaged in the digital realm) for a damage model.
In the end, as you said, the licences are a large part of the appeal for many people, and I guess more people would have been turned off had there been fewer models (those companies that wouldn\'t mind their cars being damaged) - Polyphony took his into account I\'m sure. Money talks. I think it\'s a real shame, especially since the game looks so beautiful and the cars supposedly handle so well.
However, I also read at Gamespot that because the GT series is so popular, car manufacturers are actually ASKING Polyphony to put their cars in the game - that level of exposure (which will surely increase once the jaw-dropping GT3 is released) will definately increase Polyphony\'s bargining position, and if there isn\'t damage in GT4 then I won\'t even think about buying it - Polyphony will then become like EA Sports.