The current M4 carbine the military runs costs $550 for the gubment, and in civilian trim hovers around $600 for the private citizen, so I would consider it one of those "$500 guns". What this rifle does right is; make ownership affordable to the average person, care and feeding is simple and cheap, and shooting it is even easier. It's not going to outperform a MK16 Jager Karabiner from SWORD International, but it will probably outperform it's new owner in every way.