Years ago, a read about a group of Montagnards, who were forced to flee Vietnam when the communists took over. Their only option was a cross-country trek, so they grabbed what weapons they had (M16s, AKs, etc.) & started off.
About a year later, they finally reached a non-communist destination (Thailand???). By that time, most of their firearms had apparently ceased to function & been discarded; I expected the surviving firearms to be the ubiquitous AKs, and it surprised the heck out of me to read that their US M1/M2 30 caliber carbines outlasted everything else.
Of course, it might be they carried the carbines to 'the end of the road', because they weighed less than the AKs, and were more robust than the ARs...
;^)
Interesting story. I think you made some valid points. I probably would be wearing a loincloth and carrying a sharp stick at the end of that journey.