Again, what is the purpose of a gun, of a firearm? The answer, the only answer, is a serious answer.
I generally agree and I don't own junk guns. But nobody is buying heritage, mosquitos, anything GSG, etc etc for self defense. There are junk guns,, mostly rimfire or target guns that get a pass in my book.
conversely Some of my least dependable guns are more valuable. Lol. I have some expensive 1911s that won't function reliably with sd ammo. Poor choice for SD. I have a couple sig 220 that won't accept about half of the hollow points. They won't even fit in the magazine. Not a junk gun. But poor choice for SD. My bren 10 was never particularly reliable.
Probably the worst 22 I've ever bought out of the box was my last Smith revolver. And from what I read online is not uncommon at all. . A "junk" Taurus or even a Rohm would have been better had I needed it for anything serious. A 50 dollar j-22 would have fired some...at least. So did I get my 800 bucks worth? The only gun I ever had blow up in my hand was a Colt 1911. Ive shot tens of thousands of rounds through what id call Junk 1911s like RIA, Metro, Taurus, Llama (and Kimber back in the early 00s). Had plenty jam but never blow out. I wouldn't say you get what you pay for in guns. A 500 dollar Glock is the yardstick by which most guns are measured....not a 1500 dollar 1911 or even a 1000 dollar Smith these days.
As far as centerfire, we don't have the trash brands that we had years ago. Taurus and Hi point are about the cheapest guns made and they generally work albeit with terrible ergos, horrible Triggers (never hurt HK though) and mediocre CS.
Years ago I went fishing with probably the most expensive spin cast reel made. The 1276 sli. A 100 dollar reel when a zebco 33 was 20 bucks. I ribbed everyone there over my super awesome reel. Second cast the release button broke off and smashed into the reel.
Years ago I took my new 2002 Raptor sportquad on a big ride. Everyone thought they would be left in my dust. They waited on me at every stop because mine was over heating and id have to shut it down. Oil pump was failing. I still have it and its been great since. But I don't tell people how junky their stuff is. Ive bought too many nice things that broke to do that.
You haven't been upset until you are broke down beside the road in a new 100k dollar car waiting on the dealership while watching Yugos, Festiva and other junk chugging by. Many even beep. Lol