And the reason I can't get this price even if I buy 10 is because?????
They are buying around 1,000. Plus it's a different market. The civilian market has been Obamasized, that is heated up by fear of what Obama might do next, once he gets past the Health Care thing.
You could buy a kit, say from Model One For $535, plus around $130-175 for the stripped lower. and you'd come pretty close. The upper comes assembled, you have to assemble the lower, but it's not that hard, and several "how to" sites are available, mit der pictures!
Stag Arms shows their lower for $135, but that's FFL price. (I think I did pretty well at $150 (or was it $175, well still not bad considering folks were selling them for $225 at the same show.)