Well my cousin was in the heat of battle in Nam and had been fired on many times by these things hearing the tell tale "getdwn,getdwn" But he has one. His is made in by Century Arms. He also has a couple AR rifles. But unlike you I don't think he feels any remorse about seeing someone shooting one. Actually he likes his a lot. I've shot it and to be honest, its pretty darn accurate. At least out to the 50 yards I was shooting it.