I've been involved in shooting for about 40 years, and I never cared for the AR platform - or any of the other semi-auto centerfire rifles. Why? In my experience, the majority of shooters don't shoot a semi-auto nearly as accurately as a bolt action, probably because they know they can keep shooting until the target finds a bullet. I also didn't care for the look of the wannabe military weapons, and the look of the wannabe GI Joes that often owned them.
I once let a friend talk me into buying a Mini 14, back when I was a FFL holder. Got one in stainless with the factory folding stock. Took it out and shot it, and was very happy to sell it to him at my cost - I couldn't hit squat with it.
Recently I started shooting in our friendly competitions at the local indoor range, where they have a scheduled event designed for mostly fun. We've shot Alka-Seltzer tablets at 10 yards offhand with handguns, aspirins at 15 yards with rimfire rifles, and other fun events. The December event was different - pistol, carbine, and shotgun, all supplied by the range. The pistol was a S&W M&P 9mm, the carbine was a S&W M&P15Sport in .223, and the shotgun was a 20 ga pump. The carbine impressed me, and since my hunting is ground squirrels, skunks, and coyotes, (and the rangemaster has indicated they will be having competitions that require a carbine in a centerfire rifle caliber), I thought what the heck. I have one on the way.
For me, it just adds a little more variety to the gun safe. I have bolt actions in calibers I use for varminting (.17HMR, .223, 3 .22-250s, and a .308), a Ruger 10/22 for plinking with my kids and grandkids, 3 shotguns, a HiPoint .45acp carbine, and a bunch of handguns (both semi-autos from .22LR to .45acp and revolvers from .22LR to .357).
I enjoy well-made firearms. My long-standing prejudice against black rifles has precluded me exploring that segment of firearms, but I'm dipping a toe into that Black water now......