They have a couple that are a little over $200.  Have any of you bought one?  Are they any good?  I wonder if a 10/22 (w/a 38 backing up that play) would be a better choice.

It depends on your application.
An M144
a. Will not lose value (if you take care of it)
b. You may  use it as a military trainer. Iron "peep sights", heavy barrel. Its intended purpose.
c. My M44 (predecessor) with peep sights will give my heavy barrel 10/22 at 25 yards a run for its money. At 50 yards the 3-9 scope on the 10/22 is the determining factor
d. My M44 has a cool US PROPERTY stamp on its barrel.

Now the bad:
A magazine is not included.
You will want to buy another and another...

A 10/22 for pure plinking fun is hard to beat. An M144 has character. Blue steel (no aluminum) wood stock.

I have a couple of the Mossberg M12 rifles and they are great for the money.  Since the CMP ran out of sights, their prices have gone UP.  If you got a source for $100 sights, let me know!!  Ebay has them but closer to $200 for the front and rear.  The two M12 rifles I got are in great shape.  

Magazines for the 144 are available still for $25 or so from Havlin.