I enjoy restoring older Lee Enfields and Metfords. I find many sporters around this area of Ontario. It is hunt camp country and LE sporters are everywhere. I even picked one up at a church bazzar.
I dont need full wood and a nose cap to appreciate the history of a rifle. Reading the markings and doing the detective work to figure out what it is and where it has likely been is my hobby.
When I look at a prospective purchase, I of course look at completeness with an eye for restoring. However, some of Bubba's poor red headed orphans come home with me. Often they shoot so well and handle with such good balance that they stay as sporters. I just clean them up, fix up and modify them to my tastes.
When I hunt seriously to put venison on the table, it is invariably with a LE sporter.