system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[MCU] How might things have played out differently had Tony Stark decided to go along with Agent Coulson's plan to hide his identity as Iron Man?
gpt
Stark chose to go without a secret identity because (1) he's an egotist who likes attention and (2) he's already a famous billionaire. Being known as a superhero isn't going to prevent him from enjoying his usual lifestyle. If he chose differently he'd have to be a slightly different person, at least from that point onward.

A humbler, more cautious Tony Stark is quicker to become an asset to Nick Fury. Iron Man starts being deployed as an extra-governmental asset, which discourages Senator Stern from siezing the technology. Meanwhile the public buys the cover story that Iron Man is Stark's bodyguard. They speculate that it's either Rhodey or Happy.

Whiplash attacks Happy in Monaco. Stark ^develops briefcase armor and gives one to Happy, Pepper, and Rhodey. 

Rhodey is present when the Hammer drones go on a rampage. He fights as best as he can using his briefcase armor but is badly injured. In the aftermatch Stark begins designing a tougher, much more heavily-armed suit.

Iron Man is present for the events of *The Incredible Hulk.* He arrives at the university with a special suit. However, this version of the Hulkbuster armor was built without Dr. Banner's involvement and lacks the quick-repair capabilities of the suit from the original timeline. It is defeated in time for the helicopter gunships to arrive. Stark sees the Hulk shield Betty.

Blonsky still becomes the Abomination. Iron Man arrives too late for the fight, but just in time to take the Hulk to safety. Banner recuperates in a Stark safehouse, where he learns to control his transformations.

Iron Man and the Hulk are present for the events of *Thor.* Now good friends, they compete to lift Mjolnir. They fight the Destroyer and lose. Then Thor regains his worthiness. The experience causes Stark to begin researching Asgardian magitek.

Captain America wakes up to an established team of superheroes. The events of *The Avengers* still take place, but with less bickering. The nuke never gets launched. Instead, Stark flies through the portal and ejects his arc reactor on the other side.

*Iron Man 3* happens very differently. Tony has less PTSD from the Battle of New York. He never challenges the terrorists to attack him where he lives. The *Extremis* threat is crushed by the full weight of the Avengers. Tony never blows up his suits in a big if futile gesture.

Steve tells Tony about his parents after the events of *Winter Soldier.* Their fight in *Civil War* never happens. But the Sokovia Accords still happen and this time the entire Avengers team defects to Wakanda.