There is also the practical-tactical side as referred to by gayaredion and myself and ransom.
Fact is that historically, practically and tactically things that go ka-boom are not automatically more efficient then things that dont. Mongol composite bows had many times more penetration and range then first few centuries worth non rifled muskets.
Hand grenade saw wide use only after development or rifled weaponry had necessiated trenches and bunkers which in turn necessiated it. Hand granade will be little use in battlefield if there are practically only two ranges at which you encounter the enemy... at swordpoint or at arrows reach. Even modern versions cannot be used in such conditions. Far less burning fuse blackpowder grenades that were considered pretty much a specialist weapon used by troops perhaps best compared to todays assault pioneers, the grenadiers... and theese of cource at least Saruman seemed to field in Helms deep...
Theese things have ways of moving in complex interefecting cycles. If cannons have not been fielded, then likely no gunpowder weapons are practical/necessary exept in very specialised roles. For example in feudal Japan there were muskets, but they ended up becoming rather a sniper weapon as the rest of the elements in the whole picture of the gunpowderarmed battlefield was not present.
JH
PS. did I mention that ME most likely does not have tech for drilling musketbarrels... much less rifling them.
[ September 22, 2002: Message edited by: bombur ]
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