I believe you are correct. I have had the same thoughts.
In the 1960s and 1970s the AR-15 was available but no one wanted them. Plastic, NOT ACCURATE, too small for deer, ugly.
Then when the democrats began to scream for a ban on them sales went up, Up, UP! Back in the early days probably just a few thousand sold. Now it is over 25 million.
I still would not trust a democrat! They will ban them if they get a chance. If they can get a ban to “stick” then they will return to their original targets of the 1960s and 70s, HANDGUNS!
I never paid attention to them until they tried to ban them. That put them on my "must have" list.
Should'a made 'em in 7.62.