Is it Legacy or just VisionLine?

I've had the VL Big Boy for a couple days now.  It's also my 1st Legacy locomotive.  I had run it Monday night after I got it and had the smoke turned off and the volume turned down low via the Cab-2.  I'm use to my K-Line TMCC equipped locomotives that at next powerup start fresh full volume and smoke on.  But last night when I powered it up via Legacy (After running it half an hour conventionally.) it started up with no smoke and at low volume, just like I left it.  Is this normal for Legacy, or just a VisionLine feature?

This is normal for all Legacy Engines

Also, it's sad that the sound cut out with direction changes in conventional because there is no provisions for a 9V battery.  I thought Legacy engines still had a battery connector like TMCC ones did.  Do VisionLine locomotives not have this because they figure it'll always be run in command?

Not sure.  Question for Lionel

Another thing I noticed last night was the array of sounds.  The metal creaks and clanks like a real locomotive, the other ambient sounds are just amazing!  Is this normal for Legacy, or do they really add it on for VisionLine?  It was just so awesome to hear all the noises that I was in such a good mood I was even activating the crew/tower talk (Which I just despise normally.) to hear all the possible sounds this thing makes.

This seems to be the norm for Legacy engines.  My PRR Texas class moans more than a...well you get the idea.

So I'm wondering what I have to look forward to as I increase my Legacy roster, and which things will be to VisionLine only.

Currently new models of Legacy do not have engine specific crew talk as far as roadnumbers but the sounds are all pretty incredible.  VL products tend to have the latest Gee Whiz features such as the depleting tender.  These features tend to move into the Legacy product line later.