Cee Zee, I don't fault you for your opinion on the guns in general, but the muzzle blast/concussion from the short mosins are nothing when compared to all the uber-magnums with a muzzle-brake. I'd take the mosin blast every day compared to that. Even a brake on an AR-15 is significantly more annoying.
When you get into the longer rifles, M39, M91/30, M91 and such, they're no more excessive than every other high-powered rifle out there. My 1903 and all of my 8x57 Mausers are worse than any of my M91/30s in that sense.
If it takes someone buying a $150 gun to get them started in shooting, I'm all for it. Also, all of my mosins are closer to 1"-2" shooters. My son-in-law can consistently get 1" 5-shot-groups from one of my 91/30s all day long with handloads. The 3"-4" groups are usually from surplus and most of the refurbs can shoot much better than that with better ammunition.
I have a couple of guns that will shoot sub-MOA, but they aren't nearly as fun as the milsurps when taking new people shooting. Proper hearing protection and a slip-on recoil pad is good enough for most of them. That, or IMR Trail Boss loads or "The Load" loads so the youngun's can shoot the big guns.
Anyway, I'll be sure not to stand near you at the range when I'm shooting them.
Matt