Quoted:
an ak is an ak. as long as you clean and lube it regularly it will always fire
the higher the price the better cosmetics are. accuracy and reliability are a miniscule difference if any
That's not exactly true. An AK is not always an AK. And they don't always fire. You can run them dogged to the degree they hang up. But certainly they're a fairly dependable rifle in terms of mechanics.
But I definately have to disagree regarding "the higher the price the better cosmetics are." The later Bulgarian Arsenal rifles became quite expensive and are a fine rifle. However, their finish is almost sheer aesthetics and literally scrapes right off in flakes. The Steyr-imported preban Egyptian Maadi rifle commands quite a premium. But it's just a few steps above its post ban cousin in cosmetics. You're not considering inflation of prices of many rifles for the high price.
I'd also have to disagree with "accuracy and reliability are a miniscule difference if any." There are well-built AK's and there are sloppily-built AK's. There's often a noticeable difference in reliability and accuracy. You're not considering things like canted sights, improperly established barrel assembly, etc. that many rifles became infamous for.
For the most part, most AK's out there are decent rifles. However, there are those that have little nuances particular to them that one must watch out for (Romanian SAR/WASR series with canted sights; Arsenal rifles with diminishing finishes; etc.).