ORIGINAL: KBacon
For the most part... we are partly to blame... everyone wants the best equipment.. but they also want it as cheap as possible.
I have met the enemy and he is us.
IMO, we have a lot more choices now at the lower end of the quality scale. I believe that is true all across the board, gun, sporting goods, bicycles, clothing...it's the Walmartization of America. Buy cheap. The "normal" gun sold is of lower quality in my opinion because we've accepted (slightly) lower quality for a cheaper price.
At the other end of the scale the technology has improved but who can afford it? The price is very high for the top-of-the-line stuff. Maybe this is just a reflection of our societ economies? The gap between the very rich and the middle class is growing.
ChuckS