So we seem to be at some level of agreement. 

Hypothetically, how would we go about making something that could cater to the average joe, and the average professor? 

I think I'd start by creating a fictional operation, to deny the nerds their over-saturation in background knowledge.

The setting would have to be a well known one, so's that average joe isn't forced to go on wikipedia and read up on what happened and why. World Wars 1 & 2 would be examples of this... in fact I think a World War 1 military RP might be fun, but I'll lock that away for another day. Vietnam, everyone knows what Vietnam was. The Gulf War gets a bit fuzzy, because it was boring and lacked drama so people don't know a great deal about it in comparison to the others. But yeah you get my point, you'd have to choose a well known setting; otherwise, if you do choose something that isn't, then you'd have to explain it. 

Some of the RPs I joined just said "This is happening during blah blah" and then I had to go away and work out what the Hell blah blah was. 

So fictional operation, popular/well known setting. We got that. 

Then it gets to the horrible part. Character design and weapons. I'd be tempted to literally equip everyone with the same thing, but that'd upset the nerds something chronic. So then you'd have to go the "choose whatever" route. Average joe picks his M16. Average professor picks his Mark 18 CQBR, which means nothing to anyone who doesn't know loads about guns. 

Maybe fire teams? Put the players in charge of a group of anywhere between 2 and 10 NPC troops- nah, you'd get the same issue. 

So, fictional operation, popular/well known setting, go crazy on choosing weapons. 

It's a challenge alright. It's something that I'd have to go away, write up, shove onto an interest check and then modify it as people started pointing out flaws/things they didn't like. Yeah, get your audience, and then mould it to them. 

Though that alienates future new comers. 

Well, this has been an exercise in keyboard futility. 

Any thoughts for your thoughts?