Its an inferior design. Why would I want them?
I will stick with the HK, which is based off of the old MG43.
You don’t have to sacrifice accuracy for reliability (as the AK does), you can add weight and price instead.
I am not familiar with the AK though I have taken apart an SKS, from my point of view if I had some basic machine shop equipment the SKS would be my choice to make from scratch from bare stock.
I would not even try to make an AR, even the Garand/M14 system would be a real challenge.
In Australia its nigh impossible to get any form of an AK, but you can make your own.
I do believe the general idea of making your own rifle or even a new design is beyond their current skill level in America, far too easy to just buy one.
But when you live somewhere where its not so easy to own, and you do posses the skills then you have the option to make something, or to improve on something.
My goal is to research all of the best designes, piston, op rods, gas fed or even multi barrels.
Myself I like the Saiga designs. I may work up a Saiga combo with a 5.7 (5nSeven) capability as well with an additional barrel.