Everyone has an opinion, opinions are like a**holes, every one has one, and they all stink! My opinion is that they are great rifles. I have sold many hundreds to over a thousand. If sold my lowers and lower parts kits than that. I have assembled too many to count. DPMS and Ameetec are the only two receivers I have never had a problem with. I have only had 30 Ameetec so that is a very small example. Some parts kits have parts with different colors. Rarely the take down pins have burrs. I only use DPMS Lower Parts Kits. Customers have brought me others to assemble for them, I don't keep up with any brands though. Finish is the best of any AR15. DPMS annodizes them and the moly teflon coats them. Fit is as good as anyone else. I usually have between 30 to 50 rifles in stock at any one time and 50 to no receivers depending on when you drop by. I challange any neysayers to come by and show me the poor fit and finish. And yes, I understand this has nothing to do with how the rifle functions. The RFA2-L16 is a nice entry rifle, perfect for your first AR. It is the least expensive in DPMS' line of rifles. It does have an A1 upper though. You can get it chrome lined as an option. That was good enough for me in the Marine Corps.