Interesting. Didn’t know that about the comparative reliability.
I use an AK style rifle frequently because one of my related “hobbies” is casting my own projectiles and reloading my own cartridges. Because 7.62x39 cartridges use a much heavier projectile with slower muzzle velocities, an AK style rifle works well with homemade cast projectiles made by melting old tire weights and heat treating them using an oven.
AR style rifles use higher muzzle velocities with smaller projectiles that need to be jacketed to prevent smearing lead in your barrel. These are much more difficult to make at home. They are also not cheap... they typically cost $.20 or more a piece compared to less than a penny for my homemade cast bullets. The cost of the propellant is about the same.