I've always been annoyed by that change in Cyclops's powers. Classically, his beams were weaker without the visor. The visor not only contained the beams, but concentrated them as well. Check out the scene it Xavier's office in Classic X-Men #1 (taking place in between panels of Giant X-Men#1). Suddenly, a few years later he whips off his visor and blasts Mr.Sinister to pieces with no explanation for the change. Grumble grumble.