The amount of unironic brand worship in the 2A community, mostly from the "tactical" type dudes, is insane. Spending $10k on a KAC hypebeast build, pretending that it's more capable and reliable than other builds simply because they spent $5k on the rifle itself, and added stupid shit like $500-1000 risers or some $800 "CAG, super operator" riser/magnifier mount combo.
These losers influence others to consoom FOG hypebeast magazines or some dumb GBRS shit. They discourage thoughtful purchases to convince each other that their $6k pvs14 and $10k AR were worth the money they spent. Used $700 Peq 2 in great condition? Nah, you need a MAWL bro! Omni VII green phosphor pvs14 with zone 3 blems for $1600? Nah, you need a $6k Lucentia built L3 Harris white phosphor 69420 FOM pvs14 just to start out!
If you're just getting into the hobby, I recommend just buying a $500 PSA AR and putting a $100 sig red dot on it. You can sometimes find good/great condition used BCM uppers for $500-600, then you can find any cheap lower locally for $100-150. Lowers largely do not matter until you get to tens of thousands of rounds through the rifle. Add on shit smartly. For a home defense rifle, white lights are fine, maybe you'd like to add a $120 streamlight to it. After you shoot 2000 rounds, maybe buy a used aimpoint comp m2 for $275 instead of a $800 new aimpoint, maybe a $350 used eotech 552. Nobody needs new, do you think the Army issues new aimpoints to every Joe? No, they're made to be beat to shit, and will largely function flawlessly after being beat to shit for tens of years.
