In Autodesk Maya and Softimage XSI when you go from object mode to vertex mode (for example) the color of the wireframe is changing (indicating that you are in different mode) and there is an option to change that color. In Max you can only change the selection color and it is the same regardless if you are in object mode, vertex, polygon, element. I think it will be a neat feature helping those who transition from XSI or Maya to max.
Top images - object mode
Bottom images - vertex mode
All the best
Kaloian
