you are correct in that when the rush isn't on its almost a cheap to buy a entry level ar as to build one. You might save 50-100 bucks. That said it doesn't take a gunsmith to build an ar. anyone that can take apart a glock and put a trigger spring in it can build an ar. Resale? I could care less. I don't buy guns to resell them. I buy them to shoot. You don't need to spend a grand or even 800 bucks to buy an ar that shoots 3moa. An out of the box 5-600 dollar bushmaster, dmps ect will do even better then that. Im not in the army and don't roll around in the mud or get into a firefight that requires me to shoot a 1000 rounds without having 10 minutes to hose one out and oil it. Warantee? Dmps, bushmaster ect have just as good of a warrantee as colt and if there handgun repairs are anything like there rifle repairs sending a gun to colt is like sending it into a black hole. Parts guns. PSA warrantees every part they sell. Me? I guess I look at it like this. I sure don't want to rely on having to send a ar15 back for repairs that any idiot can do at home. Maybe replace a spring or put a new extractor on a bolt? Ive got a drawer full of extra parts for ars. If **** youd best know how to fix one yourself. Building one or two is the best way to learn how they work and what can break and how to fix it. If resale does mean something to you. I can buy two parts guns for what a colt cost. I can save a 100 bucks on one. Sell the other and make maybe a 100-150 bucks and end up with an ar15 that runs just fine thankyou for 250 bucks, build 3 and you knock that down to a 150 bucks. Buy a colt or two and sell them down the line and unless a democrat gets elected your going to lose probably 200 bucks on each. Heck right now you can put one together for about the price of a high point carbine. Are you going to impress anyone? Nope. Ive been at the range many times with ARs. I don't think ive ever had anyone look for a horsey on my gun. So you aren't going to impress anyone either. Im not an ar snob. An ar that goes bang every time I pull the trigger and hits what im aim at is my goal and I don't need to spend 800 bucks to do that. Not when 400 and a hour or two of my time can get it done. Like I said who would you rather have build your gun. You who is going to be the one that pulls the trigger or trusts your familys life to it or some 10 dollar an hour employee that's main concern is how to get rid of there hangover or what there wearing on there date tonight. Show me an ar that's built entirely in house with uppers and lowers they forge themselves with every part in it made with care BY THEM and assembled by professional gunsmiths and you might impress me. But your sure not doing that for under a grand. Buy a entry level ar from ANYONE and your buying an assembly line slapped together gun. Luckily with ars that kind of works because a 15 year old kid can be trained to build a lower and do it pretty fast after hes done a 1000 of them.