It is.
That's why some of us only do certain aspects. I don't do squat with stocks or refinishing; I'll leave that stuff to the old timer who seemingly doesn't mind netting $10 or $15/hr. I stick to the metal work, and often take on jobs that other "gunsmiths" can't handle, since I'm a machinist first and have a very well equipped shop where I can literally manufacture any part but the rifled barrels from raw stock. Most shops have lots of counter space with a bunch of gun vises and cloths everywhere with all manner of things for swapping sights, cosmetic work and refinishing, and maybe a ****ty old Bridgeport and some mid-sized chicom lathe in the corner, usually looking like they haven't been turned on in awhile, and even longer since cleaned.
My model is different. I don't really do cleaning, scope installation, other tedious crap that people really should be doing themselves. You will find nary a firearm in my shop except the one I'm working on, and there's little else to indicate that I work on guns. What you will see are well kept and very well tooled top-of-the-line American and European Mills & lathes. I'm what you would probably call a "heavy line" smith.
Another thing that sets me apart as this thread goes is my turn around time, which is usually inside of 2 weeks, parts orders notwithstanding.
