Can I pretend to be the crusty old timer who interjects about "back in my day...I only paid $$" for X gun.... :D
Just kidding my too young for that, but have been buying guns for 20 years which isn't nothing but not so long. I've watched SKS's go from "commie junkers" worth $89-200, too NOW Russian's are more than I care to spend. And I regret selling my Chinese Para shorty for the $275 I paid for it!
I too am looking to bite the bullet sort of speak and pay the man what the man is asking nowadays for an average Chinese Type 56 C&R eligible carbine. They are seriously fun to shoot.