No they are certainly not 'like the old days'.
Fun to recall the good times, but I (we) didn't make or have much money either.
I still go and still seem to come away with something. Since I don't look for anything NIB or even near that, project guns are and always have been on the radar.
I still enjoy them and have way too many of all types. But still can't resist a good project piece. Doesn't matter if it's a long gun or handgun. My interests cover a very wide path but seem to end with guns made much after the mid 60's.
But not everyone would be happy with stuff like an H&R SxS 10ga, the hammerless made in the USA on the English Westley Richards patent. Complete w/ white line pad that my guess is, is not orig to the otherwise orig gun. We can fix that, hence,,it's a project gun and another gun for the duffer Skeet shoots every week..
Or a unkn 25cal cf single shot Maynard target rifle with a big dovetail cut into the bbl at the breech. Turned out to be 25-20Single-Shot cal which was my guess, but you never know.
May have been the ever popular 25-21 Stevens..
Perfect bore and chamber! Sitting right in with some com-bloc t-shirts, socks and genuine Chinese made US issue jungle knives.
..Or a perfect orig blue Chilean Mod 95 Mauser bbl'd action 7x57 sitting in a very nice preturned stock of what appears to be Euro walnut. Some nice grain. Lyman peep on the rear bridge. No holes in the ring, perfect crest. Mil Rear sight removed (unsoldered).
Never finished,,$250.
Like I need another rifle, but I couldn't just leave it there.
I'll get to it some day and finish it. Probably worth $350/400 when it's done!
Yes, it's quite different than it used to be.,
But it's better than nothing especially if you do happen to find something and you don't have to pay to park nor drive too far to get there..