All that "crappy" equipment served me just fine when I was in the service. Same "crappy" sights, stock, and type of handguards that come on the Colt LE6920. Easy to change furniture if it is something you don't want.

I e been using that crap for the last 11 yrs in the Army and I'd take my AR over it all day long.

Sure, just like you would take a tricked out Ruger 10/22 over a base model. Or a King Ranch F150 over a base model with manual windows and locks... But if you want a basic carbine with out the bells and whistles, the $500 - $600 guns are viable options.

Kinda like 1911's- there are Rock Islands, Springfields, Les Baers, and Ed Browns, and you can probably find something in that spectrum that fits your needs. I don't have a reason to shoot past 300 yds, and my $750 AR does that just fine. My wife wanted something to plink with and have for coyotes and skunks, and her $475 Del Ton will do that til the end of time. In the age of the internet, I am a paid subscriber to the efficient market theory.

Someone mentioned diminishing returns when you go up in price for an AR. No doubt a $1500.00 AR is better than a $700.00 AR. But is it $800.00 better.

I once had good timing in that I bought AR's for my son and I in early November 2012, right before Sandy Hook. The only mods I've done are installing Timney 3 lb triggers. His is a Stag Model 1 and mine is a DPMS A3 Classic. Paid right under $800.00 apiece for them. Mine shoots right under MOA with Winchester 64 grain PP's and his does the same with 65 grain Sierra GK's. The difference maker to me is the optics. Mine has a VX-R 2-7x33 and a Razor Red Dot, and we recently upgraded his to a VX-3 1.75-6x32 and a Razor Red Dot.

Neither of our AR's has a chrome lined barrel and I can't conceive of ever shooting the barrel out on mine. It has maybe two hundred rounds through it. If I shot as much as some of you guys it would be a different story.

Different strokes for different folks. I have a finite amount of money to spend and try to divide it around 60/40 between the firearm and optic.

I think the distance you shoot comes in to play when deciding how much to spend on an AR. If I were shooting long distance I'd definitely spend more on an AR. But 300 yards is a very long shot for me.

I've seen a lot of deals on good name ARs on gunbroker in the last three months. Bought a hardly used Rock River sweet 16" predator pursuit that wasn't shot much, plus accessories, all for $710. A nice Rock River National Match 20" stainless sold soon thereafter for $730.

I picked up a PTAC upper from Palmetto for $189. Threw it on a cheap Anderson lower and finishing the rifle with stuff from the parts bin. All in I think Im about $400 into this thing. Its a complete turd but thats I was looking for cheapest build possible on this one.