To find the best deal on an AK, you really need to be willing do more than just pose questions on the internet.
From your description of your job situation, you have far more time than money. Use that to your advantage and visit local gun stores, go to gun shows and learn what the market is for them in your area.
You seem to have made up your mind that there should be cheap AK's falling out of the woodwork and unfortunately that just ain't so. The days of really inexpensive AK variants (except for Saiga's and WASR's) are over and have been for a year or more.
Speaking of Saiga, that is by far the best deal going out there and yet you seem to have dismissed them out of hand because they would take a little work to convert into a version that you like. If you are really serious, about getting one, stop telling yourself that you can't do the conversion and start asking how you can do it.
You are right about one thing though, The price of AR15's has come way down and it is possible to build one right now for about $600. Of course, you would have to actually install the hammer, trigger and a few other small parts in the lower but that takes all of about 20 minuets.
Sorry for the rant, but the internet seems to have given people the idea that they don't have to do
anything to get what they want, just keep complaining that they can't get it.
BTW, I have built both an AK and an AR this year and it really wasn't all that big a deal
Zastava PAP (Yugo M70 variant). Converted to double stack magazine well and new wood.
PSA AR15. PSA complete rifle kit and PSA lower. Time to assemble: about 30 min.