Without Springfield Armory we would not have the M1a, maybe no semi auto M14 variants. They were really needed for NRA Highpower competitors at a time when Garands were extremely hard to acquire, and lost their match tune quickly.
As for cheap, I thought the ones I purchased were expensive. My period of M1a was when the National Match and Super Match M1a's had GI bolts, operating rods, gas systems, and triggers. These were the Gold Standard at the time, there were a few other semi auto M14's, but SA was the 99% rifle on the line. I know a lot of derision has been thrown at cast receivers, most of which is unfair. I have examined forged and milled receivers. These receivers copied as close as possible, without violating ATF fears of full auto conversions, the GI configuration. SA made their receivers thicker in the side walls, which gave them a longer impact lifetime. I never had a problem dropping GI parts into a SA receiver, and I cannot say that of one of the forged and milled receivers I encountered. The SA warranty was outstanding, I had a bud who had over ten barrels on one SA receiver, and it cracked under the elevation knob at the bolt release. SA replaced the receiver and sent back what was a rebuilt match rifle for free! I talked to USMC shooters when they were still using Government M14's as match rifles, GI receivers cracked, bolt rollers came off, lugs cracked. The M14 was designed to be as light as possible to pass a 6000 round endurance test. USMC team shooters put so many rounds downrange they were finding the fatigue lifetime of the locking system. I thought a little extra weight in the SA cast receiver was a good thing.
I did earn my Distinguished with a SA M1a, and am very happy with the ones I have.
