while all that is true.
I went from no AR style rifle, to shooting my S&W almost overnight (time for approval to go thru and drive back to pick it up)
how long does it take to collect all the parts needed to build?
what skills are required to build from parts, to a shooter?
what tools are required to assemble a shooter from parts?
the Norinco & S&W are very simple, quick and easy guns for someone new, wanting to shoot.
it's like your first car, you can save up for years, buy a nice car, add some quality parts and eventually cruise around in a sweet ride.
or you save a few pay checks, buy a civic/Jeep/truck ASAP, and over time learn how to fix/modify it to suit your needs, years ahead of saving for the "best".
for a brand new RPAL person, they can put rounds down range ASAP with a S&W, and not need special tools or skills required to build a gun.
building may be best bang for buck.
but if I was a new shooter, best smiles for buck is a S&W M&P15 2 days after getting my RPAL and range membership.