This thread has become the typical THR thread whenever the subject of a pistol caliber carbine pops up; it almost makes me wonder if the replies aren't regurgitated on purpose. Typically, when these offerings get announced, everyone wants the unique, cool toys, but 99% of the peanut gallery are too stingy to pony up for them. Everyone seems to be looking for an exotic $600 PCC, and some even decry the price and even the *usefulness* of a PCC.
All the while, a large number of members drive around in gas-guzzling, high maintenance, $35k trucks whose beds have never seen a full load, nor have the tires traversed though anything other than asphalt.
"It's too expensive! What's the use!"
Some people choose to drive $35k+ vehicles that they have no real use for. They might do it for status, or it might be their true passion, even if the design envelope is never approached. Some people like to go gambling and throw away more money in a month that others make in an entire year. Some folks are regulars at their local tavern and have an eternally living tab. Some folks have boats; Bust Out Another Thousand. Some of us have only one vice, and it's the shooting sports.
Frankly, I think that innovation like this is cool as hell. We are truly living in the Golden Age of the *evil* rifle. There is definitely a market for this. That market is NOT the guy whose collection is not already squared away. That market is NOT the guy who is considering buying a WASR-10. That market is NOT the guy who saved his shekels for a year in order to buy a Hi-Point. That market might be the guy who can only shoot pistol calibers at his local indoor range. That market just might be the guy who wants to SBR it and add a can for ultra-quiet subsonic trigger time. That market just might be the guy who is a die-hard AK enthusiast and is hell-bent on owning every iteration imaginable.
In my opinion, the real deal-breaker here is the lack of widely available parts. This is especially important for those of us who dabble in the NFA game, as often we are
married to these guns and ditching them is not an option. As an owner of an MP5 SBR, this thing isn't for me. I'd much rather be married to a weapons system whose parts are widely available with various levels of quality (and price-points) to choose from. If it weren't for my MP5, I'd have grabbed the 9mm kit for my AUG, and for the same reasons.
Sustainability is the real issue here.