No, the Army issue was never made in full auto. It was 3 round burst or semi, and after a couple of years all were issued as semi-auto with the exception of usually one soldier in a squad.
This particular model 90 PE wasn't issued for sale to civilians in any country. The rarity is nothing more than laws that prevented them from coming into the US, nothing more than that.
Around 1990 the 550s and 551's in the civilian format came into the US. I bought 5 of each for resale and never considered that once they were gone I'd not be able to replace them. I was pretty darned sorry that I hadn't kept one of each, carbine and rifle. I paid $1,150.00 each. Later on they sold for a cool $5,00.00 each.