: I don't understand how mechs are so fantastical, especially considering how
: the Spartans are just extremely strong people in extremely miniaturized
: exoskeletons, which is the direction our military is currently heading
: towards.

No.

There's a clear and distinct difference between power armor and mecha. Power armor is protection. It is meant to augment a person's strength and provide protection. Now that I think about it, power armor is supposed to give individual infantrymen the benefits that vehicles enjoy.

Mechs... go in the opposite direction. They're vehicles, clear and simple, but they've been saddled with the human form and all the inefficiencies and drawbacks that come with it. And the benefit is... nothing.

: Mechs have some pretty clear advantages over tread or wheel-based vehicles,
: and obviously aircraft hasn't removed the need for such vehicles either.

Like Leviathan, I can't see any advantages either.
The one I hear the most is "Mechs can cross terrain that conventional vehicles can't." That is... patently untrue. You've got a shifting center of mass when you move and all your weight is on that small footprint. A Scorpion is going to cross much softer ground than a Mantis.

So... can I hear your arguments for? I never tire of this debate!