I'd say it's a maybe for me. Lots of high-end Euro centerfires have aluminum receivers and bolts that lock into the barrel. Maybe the insert is the attachment point for the barrel. No rush, I've barely scratched the surface of possibilities for two of my other .22s. Half-inch .22s can be had pretty cheaply with good ammo; it's the .25-.4 rifles that make things really interesting.
As to CA customer service problems, that's news to me, but I've not really paid attention, largely because their tv show used to annoy the crap out of me. I always assumed their stuff was pretty good, just hyped to death.
