People sometimes put too much emphasis on sub-MOA accuracy. Most people have no use for such accuracy, they want a rifle that goes bang reliably, is simple to care for, and has good ergonomics.
The mini-14 has always met those goals. It was never meant as a highly accurate target rifle, but as a everyday shooting rifle.
A lot of idiots harbor hate towards Ruger for the statements made by the now deceased founder over 15 years ago, just as some of the same idiots refuse to buy Smith and Wesson for the same reason.
Some people are just idiots and there is no point in arguing with them.
I own an early nineties stainless steel Mini-14, with a scope. It does what I bought it for, which was for varmint control, and plinking. I does very well at 200 yards on prairie dogs, rabbits, skunks and coyotes.
Is it as accurate as a tricked out AR-15, no, but it is cheaper than a store bought AR-15, (far more so then, than now), and it gets the job done.
If I want a really accurate sub-MOA rifle, I will get a good Bolt action .308 or 30-06.
While I like target shooting in the plinking style, I am just not interested in bench rest target shooting.