Funny thing on ballistic plates…of course with the FBI it is a different beast with 8 to 10 heavily armed agents going after one bad guy…but in Iraq I wore side plates but not the cock-and-ball flap. While in Afghanistan I wore a pretty slimmed down plate carrier with just a front and back plate (to much up hill there). Other guys wouldn’t go near the front gate without their groin protector but never wore side plates! To each their own.I’ve been taught that stance as well, but we were also told to do whatever is comfortable. Also, I didn’t need to collapse my rifle stock to shoot this way. The main benefit we were told is it helps keep our front plate square to the threat, vs exposing our side. I can’t recall anyone who kept their side plates in, either.