Seems like there’s a real difference between ranges where the clientele bring their own guns & ammo, and those where everything can be rented/bought on site.
Rental ranges used to be about Japanese tourists getting to fire guns that they were forbidden from owning in Japan, or anyone who wanted the experience of firing an automatic weapon.
You’re right who said why buy a gun for one-time use when you can rent it for a lot less?
I have a millennium pro for sale right now because I liked it in the store. Now the rangeowner where I shoot brings out goodies for me to try that he thinks I might like. Unfortunately, he seems to know what I like and my wish list at the local gunstore seems to grow longer each week.
Maybe it would be different if they had people watching over the booths?