One thing I like about the 760 is it is easy to load pellets. The first one I had came with a rifled barrel and wood stock.
They now have plastic stocks and a smoothbore barrel. I do like the basic design and it is even cheaper than the Daisy model 880 but I think they should have kept the rifled barrel. I could even put up with the plastic if the barrel was rifled.
They must have changes the 760 since I last examined one. I still have my 761XL from back in the 1970’s and have rebuilt the pump on it several times. It has the rifled barrel and the wood stock along with the brass plated finish on the action.
The “Red Rider” types are little more than a Pop gun and Daisy used to make the exact same unit as a pop gun.
Obviously things are never the same as time progresses. As you say, Crosman has cut costs, and I’m sure made things much cheaper to stay in an affordable price window.
There are other airguns out there that are superior to the 760 but they cost almost as much as a .22LR