I feel Ruger took the Mini-14 in a bad direction years ago by trying to make it compete with AR's, slapping black plastic stocks on them, not to mention that God-awful plastic folding stock on some models, and then trying to stick rails on them. That, coupled with Ruger's inattention to accuracy concerns, and the inept methods of dealing with accuracy on the so-called target models that they used to produce, have led to diminishing sales, especially at a time when AR's can be bought in the $600 range.
Ruger, if you are listening, the Mini-14 is never going to be an AR, and it doesn't need to be. It is a derivative of the M1 Garand, the M14, and M1 Carbine. Stop with the plastic stocks and use nice wood. Work on the accuracy issues by using better barrels, better sights, and better triggers. Make a folding stock model that uses the old metal folding stock of the AC556. Don't market it as a tacticool AR competitor, but as the derivative of a historical rifle that can be used for ranch work, home defense, and plinking.