Let's face it, the AK wasn't popular because it was a sophisticated modern design with exceptional precision, it was popular because it was a dirt cheap yet extremely reliable rifle.
People didn't care that it wasn't up-to-date, easily customized, modified, tuned, or outfitted with all the latest gadgets because it was inexpensive, low maintenance, and effective.

Unfortunately, all of the things that the AK had going for it are no longer valid. The AK is no longer cheap and domestically produced AKs lack the same rugged reliability as those produced by the old Soviet Union or even modern Eastern European examples, so all that leaves us with are its downsides/disadvantages over the more modern AR.

Nowadays, there's just no compelling reason for the average person to purchase an AK over an AR, so it has become a hard sell in the current market.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.