My $.02--
1. The Garand is a classic. I got my ISRA membership to shoot for one from CMP (I have not had a chance to shoot the required competetion yet, but soon!!).
2. The M1A--had one, sold it--they are very accurate, but I like my FAL better. If I want accuracy, I'll get a bolt gun, for an autoloader, the FAL (and it's cheap mags) works better for me than an M1A (and it's $40+ mags).
3. The Thompson--cool, but that's it. Unless you are going to get a full auto (figure $5,000 to $12,000+) it's not real practical--very heavy, the common full auto mags need to have their mag release catch hole modified to work in the semi-auto guns, and the 16" bbl doesn't do much good for the .45 round (a 10" bbl is much better). Drum mags are $400+, which is getting kind of expensive. I also had one and sold it off for just those reasons. More practical is an UZI (at $1000 if you look, you can get a good one that is pre-ban, has the folding stock, etc.--hell for $2700 you can get a full auto one).
AFARR