The M-16 is a fine piece of machinery, as such it needs care to keep it going. The Garrand was also a fine piece, if it could have lost some weight through modification (new alloys, fiber stock)it would still be a fine piece. All weapons have initial flaws that have to be worked out after fielding. The M-16 is probably as reliable as the most reliable weapon out there. It also has better accuracy than most.
I agree. I was in Vietnam in 1967-68 and know that it had to be clean. The powder they used back then was very dirty. I think that caused a lot of the problems.