Didn't read all of this but that never stops anyone on the fire.
The trigger is one of the best hunting triggers available and is easily adjustable, hence no need for an aftermarket trigger until you go below an ounce or two.
The safety is one of the best for sporting rifles, no need to replace.
Bolt is one piece, no need to replace it.
Extractor is about as good as it gets being almost a pure Mauser style but beveled to load dropped in cartridges (usually).
Barrrels are not bad and deliver hunting grade accuracy on a regular basis.
Stocks generally have good ergonomics and are available in lighter weight models if desired.
There is more but basically not a lot is needed on an M70. Also most that are modified go through the full custom treatment whereas the M700 are more likely to be bubba upgrades. As the price goes up on custom rifles the number of M700 will get fewer and fewer until at the very upper echelons it will be almost all Mauser's and M70s.
The M70 was at one time used as I believe the Marine issued sniper rifle but due to cost Remington took over this market, I don't think it had anything to do with functioning.
The model 70 never had a match grade trigger and if you compare worked over triggers for comp guns the 700's blows it away.
The rest of the points you raise on the model 70 pertain only to the pre 64 guns which havent been around for 57 years. The NH classics had mostly crappy extractors, crappy cast triggers and mediocre at best barrels. The bolt were also two piece and grazed together. They have had failures. The FN guns are better across the board.
