He had (or has) an AK, so I'm guessing he's familiar with them. I'll amend my previous suggestion; build an AR, take that I/O AK, and sell/trade it and the $600 or so left over from the build and get a Krebs AK. Best made. The Arsenals are very good, too.
AK's get just as dirty as AR's.
Everything you've said is true, including this; However an AK will keep firing long after an AR has started it's well-known pattern of failing to come to battery due to carbon collecting in the bolt carrier and bolt. You'll note the is no forward assist on any AK model. (Though, I suppose the hook on the bolt carrier would suffice were it needed)
I was an Armorer in the Army. I've seen many malfunctions with M16's (both A1 and A2) of just about every type possible. I've seen exactly
ONE AK malfunction, and that was due to an improperly re-installed "shepard's crook" pin retaining spring. It was replaced with the flat type. I've built several AK's, and although I am a gunsmith, the only thing I needed to do in the shop was pemenantly affix the longer muzzle breaks. (They were all AMD-65's) Many people poo-poo srcew builds, but all of mine have several thousand rounds through them. Yes, I check the screws as a part of maintaining them. For the ease of building, I deemed it a good trade-off. The days of $80 parts kits are long gone, and as has been pointed out, AR are now the cheaper rifle to buy or build. (and certainly easier to build!) I predict a lot of dealers are going to be sitting on their AK's; For a few years, they became popular, as AR prices were high, and Gabe Suarez and some other trainers started offering AK courses. But as things are today, unless one
really wants an AK, the AR's are by far the better bargain. The high-quality AK's will always have a market, and will always have value.
That said, I'm keeping my AK. But I just might have to buy or build an AR in the near future. I did build one in '89, right after I got out, but the $$$ they went up to due to the impending Klinton Ban was too much to resist.