Sorry to have made you tear up ruger!
You know the 742 was a very popular gun . i have one i have had for some 23 years i think. there is no comparison between the 710 and it in quality but it had flaws. thus came the 7400 . but folks back when this gun was on the market wouldnt have even picked up a 710. heck dealers would not have ordered one!
Anyway the situation with parts makes me consider selling my old 742. and it looks almost new.not many like it anymore.
But then again other gun companys make disposables. the 22/45 from ruger the zytel ? i have one but i bought it to be rough with. it is a good tote gun but nowhere near as nice as a slab side mkII.
So i guess maybe the 710 has a place in the economy gun owners case.
you know when i first saw a glock i thought "who would want that?" then i shot one and saw how good they shoot. they appear to hold up well so my first impressions were wrong.
But, there is always a BUTT!,the glocks action never felt as crappy as the 710 to me .
But it is not just limited to the 710. i had to send a 11-87 back cause it had a chunk of the reciever just break off! Now we are talking about a $700 shotgun! they fixed it but still. i could talk all day about good and bad guns. folks can spend there money on whatever they want i guess.

SOUTH ARKANSAS REBEL