The problem with Ruger, and the other full-line manufacturers is the change in the workforce. Guns used to be assembled by trained people who were machinists and fitters, because they had to be. Now, makers are going to the Glock/AR anyone-can-slap-the-parts-together guns. Yet, the old style guns still need some fitting and personal work. The problem is, the people who used to do that are either retiring or decided not to move when the company moved production 600 miles away. So, the "fitting" is now being done by a promoted "parts slapper" and they really don't know what they're doing.
As others have said, many people don't care about quality anymore, just the warranty. I know someone who leases (stupid right there) Chrysler trucks. He's had to get major transmission work done three times, even though he never tows anything. He traded it in on another Chrysler. When asked why, he replied it was all covered under the warranty, so he didn't care. I guess quality is a lost art.
