Agree AND disagree , totally agree TM really do sit on there reputation when it comes to the externals of there guns , the plastic/wood furniture is shocking . BUT as you said they are among the best out of the box and as long as there no F**king around with them internally they will stay that good for an awful long time , not many other brands can say that .
Gas is better but again only in the right environment , think there pretty pointless on an open scurmish day when everyone else is running more BB’s in one game than you could in an entire day , we may have the satisfaction of the boom and clunk of a bolt reciprocating each time we pull the trigger but first time player with his rental is still gonna own you with his 600rd AK hi-cap in the end .