OK. An owner can do whatever he wants to with his guns, even to the point of destroying them. But it seems to me that there is an ethical obligation to pass them on to posterity in an unsullied condition.
Back in the 1950's and 60's people were chopping up milsurps right and left to make inexpensive "sporters" out of them. (The American Rifleman even ran an article detailing how you could do this to an M1 Garand.) Today, we look back and see how this was a terrible loss. Don't be "bubba."
And, BTW, the "cheap" modifications -- the subject of this thread -- are the worst offenders.
That's a valid opinion, but also one I don't agree with whole heartedly.
In milsurps I prefer to buy guns that have been modified, bubba'd even, and see if I can't build something classy, or at least neat out of them (I leave the ones that dont have major modifications already done for guys that like collecting the originals. I really do feel that it's a valid and worthwhile thing to do). I was collecting sporterized ww1/2 bolt guns for a while cause I thought they were cool. I had to finish a couple I picked up as parts bags, and personally I enjoy those far more than I ever did the non-modified versions I've had.
A Savage 110, or a 700, is about as soulless a creature as you can get until it's owner changes that by using it and making it something beside being a collection of stuff in a box. Little modifications, even tacky ones (as long as they aren't really bad lol) add personality, and give you something to talk about. Commercial anything also lack the inherent "history" (unless they were a first, special variant, or it's bad) of military firearms.
Again if folks feel differently, that's fine, but I'm not going to use any rifle, much less a commercial rifle, with a 7lb trigger, or that came with a 5 dollar scope (any longer than I need to), or a stock designed for opens when they don't have them........
This is also coming from a guy who buys guns and other stuff, just to tinker with.