The “that is neat” geeks will buy them. I am sure we all have a buddy or buddette that buys every new “neat” thing that goes bang.
Realists will see that it is almost as cheap now to buy a real one and shoot Ruskie or Korean milsurplus 06 still sloshing around. I saw solid surplus Springfields for $999 in Cabellas this weekend (on sale). (My wife drug me to that overpriced temple of woodsy metrosexualism)....BUT
Real market, though still small, would be to familiarize tykes to the heft and feel of the M1 and M14/M1A for ultimate participation in competitive high power rifle.
The closer the controls and weight match the real deal, the better.
From nurseries across America little voices squeaking out....”This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.”
Oh, to live in that America once more.
I got what I consider the perfect compromise, a couple of Mini-14’s. One set up as tactical and the other(a S.S. Ranch) is accurized and retro’d to look like I washed and dried an M-14 it in hot water and shrunk it.