>>10487539>>10487586>>10487628from what I've read over the decades (I've taken a lot from the comics, but a lot of fans have said similar shit), Vipers are marines. They act as shock troopers, hence decked out in heavier armor and bigger weapons, because they're the first to enter combat.
Cobra soldiers are army, acting more as support and filling in the battle lines.
A lot of combat specialists roles can only be had from being a Viper, while non-Vipers like Snow Serpents and Eels were supposed to be phased out and replaced by Specialist Vipers.
Since GI Joe is a product and catering to nostalgia sells more products, Cobra troopers, Eels, etc kept on getting new figures and coexisted with the Vipers, despite the overlap in roles. So people have to make up head canon to explain why Shock Troopers are a thing when Alley Vipers exist.
