You are right. Only preban could be imported as original at the time. Today that window is closed. Now it has to come 'sporterized' (monte carlo stock) and be then to be 'desporterized' here either by the distributor or by a company or private/enthusiast conversion.
The only two that do that I am aware that keep the Russian pedigree right now are Saiga sporters (RRA) and AKs form izmash that are prepared by Legion LTD to import via Arsenal but it is unclear how they actually come in and what they do to them.
So the Saigas are very popular right now as they are still reasonable in price (my first one cost me $175 years ago, now $575) and make great conversions. The last ones I have come with the same receiver and barrel stamps as the mill spec AKs. I found a couple blogs in a Russian website where they posted the comparative.
So the U.S. made barrel is not necessarily a bad thing. It could be actually good and definitely would take a new one in some systems over a leftover from a junk yard in Romania or somewhere and they call surplus here. Most of the good stuff is long gone.
I have a friend that took the M76 from century (US barrel) and he is super happy but other guy I know the same one from century only issues, canted sights, and doesn't shoot straight, so go figure.
So I am quite happy with converting a saiga any day and also just enjoy the awesome accuracy of the 16" converted. This was a really pleasant surprise for the AK type. Far more accurate than any dragunov original or knockoff or any other AK for that matter, even the .308 in 21" cannot touch this.
Engineers in Russia have been commenting of the advantages of the Eastern ammo in their systems and they cannot explain why they are so good but the consistency and reliability of the .308 NATO is very hard to beat by any standards across the board.
I have been looking like crazy for a Russian Tigr in .308 but I cannot fin them here and they will not come here any time soon. The reports from some they have them in Europe is superior accuracy than the Dragunov itself something I am not surprised based on the groups I am getting with the saigas.
All this I can tell your from having shooting some of these systems A LOT and not form the opinions from others....
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=567005
But also a good Garand in good condition is hard to beat. A good grade barrel is key like any carbine.
Nothing really good will end up being really cheap. I think that the saiga is the only exception.