WOW! Sounds like you are letting a deal slip through (mind you, I am a Newb at carbines)!
Over here, I haven't seen any M1icon's at chain stores 'cept for the one that I snagged at our version of Big 5.
I was down on the job front, so I opted to do a layaway... just to lock it in place while I looked for funds... 30 days to find the $$.....