Dr. Fresh, bang bang, King G. and others put it in a nutshell. If Dr. Fresh ever adds a Makarov handgun to his family, he will have the complete reliable set to cover various distances (only requiring low-cost ammo) with only the lowest-priced guns.
Even many people who are no longer broke (unlike years ago), find very dependable, low-cost combat (or c-styled) rifles to be the only guns which exert a strong appeal, maybe a bewitching seduction.
Not only are the SKS and MN valuable weapons, the SKS with a single hollow-point round can stop a large feral pig (photo evidence), and two shots from a MN 44 can kill a large black bear. So-called 'entry-level' rifles have very large followings and good 44s are now becoming difficult to find in many places.
The Finns and Siberian Eskimos (using iron sights) among others still hunt large land and ocean animals (walrus etc) with MNs in order to put meat on the smoking, sizzling grill. I've got the photos.
If the SKS and MN are 'entry-level' yet quite effective, then who needs advanced rifles under those conditions?
"SKSboards" and "Gunandgame" can be helpful.
A friend in my company still shoots on the Navy Rifle Team (ARs) at Camp Perry etc, though retired from the Reserves.
He had a Russian SKS several years ago and told me today that he regrets having sold it.
Two MN 44s, SKS, two Minis. Another SKS is my long-term goal
. Just a simple, unlettered conscript 'Russian peasant' who only enjoys iron sights and blowing solid objects to pieces, on land or water. An SKS shooter who hits the target is just as deadly as an AK shooter who can do so.