I doubt he would open for Guns again.  I liked it when he did, but I would think Axl would select a different opener this time around.

The difference between the two albums is obvious to me.  Metallica needed to recapture their old sound to win a lot of their old fans back.  GNR are trying for a lack of a better term, "re-invent their sound", and not make Appetite II.

I'm an old school who likes the pre-Black albums and this is the first one to get me really fired up since Justice.

I really like the album.  If you throw out The Unforgiven III, this is the album I wanted after Justice.

Metallica has now put three singles on itunes before the release of the album.  This makes perfect sense for Guns.  Especially if they were studio versions of songs that were leaked.  I'm sure Metallica is rolling in the cash right now and will continue.  They have the right marketing for this album.  They also played the first single on This Week In Baseball of all places.