Agreed, people get the stamped, cheaply made AK's confused with the SKS simply because they use the same ammunition. In fact the SKS is a heavy machined steel gun.
I bought a few of them several years ago (before they were lost in a tragic boating accident), and I converted one of them to the detachable mag type. I much prefer the stock SKS.
I’d rather fire 10 rounds accurately than try to “spray” 30 from a hi-cap mag. IMO, once you drop the barrel and receiver into a new stock with pistol grip, you’ve essentially made an AK. The standard stock SKS is a great distance shooter, esp. for varminting.