one thing you have to keep in mind is the cost of manufacturing and inflation.
in the 1960s many of the processes to make the remington 700 were done by hand, this lead to a firearm with a much better fit an finish than ones cranked out by machines...
...but this came at a cost, in 1966 a remington 700 cost $150, adjusting for inflation thats a touch over $1,000.......for a grand they better be a damn good rifle.
today many of the processes are automated, this makes the firearms cheaper and more easily produced, and today you can buy a remington 700 for $550....
so if you are comparing a a rifle from the 60's to a modern rifle, of course the quality is going to seem higher, and it should, because you are comparing a $1000 rifle to a $550 rifle.
now could remington ramp up their quality?....sure they could..... but look at who their primary target is, its mostly hunters, and last i checked most hunters arent willing to pony up a grand for a rifle when a perfectly servicable rifle can be had for half the price.