User blog comment:TheNewProtagonist/Dust is actually kinda dumb./@comment-15108745-20130813155840

I think Maki's already said most of this by the time I finished typing :(

but...I'll post anyways

I can understand what you're getting at. It would be a lot easier to explain by saying it's magic and you would save yourself a lot of headaches from 1) a writing viewpoint because you aren't limiting yourself by the world you build and 2) an audience viewpoint because you don't have to try and put together all these pieces that don't seem to fit.

But maybe saying it's magic would just make it too easy. When you install rules into the world that you build, I think that makes the world that much more believable. Of course, the rules have to make sense, or else its just all bulls***. (From what I've seen of the RWBY crew, they seem to have thought everything out and will just reveal everything to us slowly) If there were no limitations, then there would be no real drama or conflict. This is why I find so many shonen anime and manga so hard to read because the characters are just going to power-up and be okay.

Now then, If you want to know why Monty chose Dust (this powdered, colored substance) specifically, while I don't know his specific reason, I can guess at it.

It might have something to do with the seeming parallel between fuel and gunpowder in our world and Dust in the RWBYverse.

Or maybe, since the RWBYverse is very color-heavy and color-dependent, he wanted something that the characters could use in the same way as color in our world (mix it, lighten it, darken it...etc).