I'm gunna get shot here,and I agree with you mostly,but here goes my own thinking on this. To begin with,I am a gunsmith for 26+ years and ex competition shooter/accuracy freak. In vast majority of cases you are right. When I talk if a 1/2 rifle,it should be able to group into 1/2 inch at ANY and every time I shoot it. I do build rifles that group that good. However-these are far from factory rifles. In fact,about only things that are factory on these are reciever and those are blueprinted,fitted,trued,or otherwise modified. We are talking in excess of $400 just for barrel blank,prior to fitting,turning,threading,and chambering. I do believe we all need to optimize our rifle/load/scope/our skill to shoot the bestwe can within reason. All this having been said,most people(including me) make too much of a rifle's accuracy. A rifle that will CONSISTANTLY group 1.5 inches at always same point of impact,is better than a tighter shooter that shifts point of impact every time you pick it up. After all,a 2" rifle will still hit deer farther than we can while under field conditions.