when is keltec's .223 bullpup coming out? How about the IWI micro tavor (x-95 I think?). I'm sitting in the same boat, have been for awhile now. Will get the norc cqb for sure this spring, just because of the price. As far as "black" NR selection goes, there's nothing out there atm. Gonna sit on the sidelines for awhile.
ACR's the best...but it costs a lot
xcr, is.....but the NR tax, makes it about $1000.00 more than it should be.
Tavor's cool. It costs a lot, and there's a reason why the Tavor isn't everywhere. I haven't figured it out, exactly why (other than high cost) the Tavor isn't more popular. If it wasn't NR, you'd be saying "What's a Tavor?" I'd say "I don't know, who cares?"
Mini-14, heard too many bad things about them; they're the same as chevy trucks ie. you're just buying a low-quality product with a big name and a fat mark-up.
MR-1, I heard the barrel's were worse than the mini-14..next!
T-97, Almost called it good value, but then "good value" is an interesting concept. I'm not trading 2 days worth of hard labour, for what some Chinese sweat-shop kid, took 15 minutes to slap together
Only option really, is to help push to get AR's to NR. That's really all there is to it, eh?