You're right, M1As are expensive. But recently I caught myself slobbering all over a FN SCAR 17 with a $2,999 price tag... Out of my ballpark. Inventory here has a Springfield and a Polytech. Both shoot great and are as accurate as I'd ever expect from the platform out to 500 yards or so - for me at least. M14/M1A has a great "feel" to it, justifying the expense to a certain degree.