Ive put around a thousand rounds through my Rossi. Mostly magnum-ish level 45's ( 11.5 grains True Blue 250 grain plated ) . I have no idea what your'e talking about needing work out of the box. It might not be slicker than grease but its functioned 100% since I got it. Any work I might do to it will be because I'm bored and not because it NEEDS to be done.Kit guns (guns that need hands on tuning and fixing out of the box) like Rossis and post Remington takeover Marlins "Remlins" are great if you enjoy tinkering, are handy with tools and have lots of patience and spare time.
If you are paying a gunsmith to do the smoothing & modifications then you might as well buy a Browning BLR or a Miroku Winchester 92 where the quality and full functionality is there right out of the box.
Probably be cheaper in the long run and the gun will (other than sighting in) be ready to hunt the day you bring it home.