I think that I was the only SFC in A'stan/Iraq that carried a SAW as a daily weapon. I had an after market sling that made holding it for CQB as easy as using am M-4.
My younger brother carried the 249 as his primary weapon when he was in 3rd Rangers, I know he loved that thing. Fired it left handed, too, something you're apparently not suppoed to be able to do, or shouldn't.

Somolia, 1993. He's in the center, kneeling.