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Solid steel milled parts are more expensive to produce and in the case of older guns with hand fitted parts being "better"? Better than what? A part that has to be "hand fitted" basically means that all the parts are not within the same tolerances and have to be filed/stoned in order for the product to function as designed. Expensive in the end and a indicator of inconsistent manufacturing. MIM parts are mass produced and have much tighter tolerances, cheaper to produce and do not need any final "fitting" by hand for the product to function.

Hand fitting does not mean it's made better.

It don't mean it's made worse either.
Sure CNC machining will cut to closer tolerances, BUT in MY non expert opinion a good steel, hand fitted by someone that really knows what they are doing & has pride in their work is hard to beat for strength & smoothness. Simply functioning, is a far cry from working very well- as well as possible. Having less tradesman that are able to perform that kind of work and less consumers willing to pony up the $ to pay for that kind of material/craftsmanship, may have much to do with why it's faded away, & the only "real" affordable way to get it, may be to hope to find a good deal on an older gun, IMO. Can a new gun shoot better than the vast majority of the owners, IMO YES! There's also more to life than group size as well.