Gophers around here used to be able to agree with your assessment of the 10/22.
Yepper and you can get a black one. I’ve got a 10-22 with a composite stock and a collection of 25 round mags.
The best steal I ever stumbled across was a Savage over and under with 22 magnum on top and 20 gauge under.
I also own a Savage breech with interchangeable 20, 16, and 12 gauge barrel sets. The twelve with rifled slugs is a rifle, good out to 100 yds.
The SKS is a cheaper alternative to the AK and everybit as reliable. Buy several for parts.