I think it's kind of stupid to spend $500+ extra on buying a rifle to get the bayonet lug, flash suppressor, folding stock, etc.
For the most part, it drives me absolutely insane when one person decides that something is of no use to them, or of no interest, and then, through their omnipotent powers of deduction, cast a net of "it's stupid to do that, just because I don't see any need for it" over everyone else in the entire populace.
To demonstrate my point, you have determined that folding (or telescoping) stocks are "less accurate" and the benefits of their size reduction are negligeable, flash supressors don't really work and are therefore useless decoration, and a bayonet lug... well, I digress...
BUT, you're mad about the pistol grip deal, so in your world, those are NOT "stupid". Since you like PG's but have no use for the other features, ANYONE who wants a flash supressor or telescoping stock is a STUPID Navy SEEL wannabe, but the Pistol Grip makes perfect sense for any firearms owner, and does NOT make one a "Mall Ninja"...
Like "Robby from Long Island", I am the proud owner of a pre-ban Bushmaster XM15E2S by default. I bought it in late '93, and payed roughly $950 for it... The AW ban had either passed, or was thought to be a shoe-in to pass ( I can't remember) so people had already begun raising prices....
I like the telescoping stock for putting it in my truck, as it takes up a little less room... It has NO effect on accuracy (I put an A2 on it once, it didn't shoot any better, and I didn't like it...) and lest we forget, the true telescoping stock is essentially an "adjustable length of pull" stock, which means my wife can shoot it, my 11 year old son can shoot it, and I can shoot it, and we can all have the LOP right where we want it.
If I were just buying my first AR today, I could not afford the extra $$ to get a pre-ban rifle, but I would certainly prefer one. I really don't need a bayonet lug, and could care less if it had one, but if someone else wants one, I do not judge them. The adjustable length stock would be the most desireable pre-ban feature to me given the great size differences between family members (6'3", 5'6", 5'1"). The Phantom flash supressor on my AR isn't a neccessity for me, but it is quite effective at diminishing nearly all the muzzle flash, so it does make firing my 14.5" barrelled AR much more comfortable to my son than my friend's Rock River carbine with 16" crowned barrel.
On the other hand, if I were financially able to afford a 7000 sq. ft. home, a $55,000.00 SUV and a $40,000.00 sport coupe, I'd have nothing but pre-ban rifles.
So to wrap up this rant, simply because you don't want something, it doesn't make those who do "stupid", and it doesn't mean that you should just lump anyone else who might into one offensive "armchair Rambo wannabe" category. Heck, just having a pistol grip on your rifle is enough to get your picture on
www.mallninja.com according to some.