My son has a M1A Scout, the "Goldilocks" version of the series. Its just a brute force tool for sure. More accurate than me (60 year old eyes and arms) and has a bunch of nostalgia. Tiger wood stock for the cool factor.
My Mini 14 is not stock. PO spent money reinforcing the barrel, added hard mounts for a rail, trigger work (soft) and cut it down to legal minimums. It is freaking loud, no a HD option due to noise, but it shoots like a lazer and eats any kind of ammo. I put it into a wood stock to look handsome. Too much fun, it's my favorite plinker tool.
As I said the AR platform is fun too. A tool with lego skills to be anything and repaired without a manufacturer involved. So many options.
I laugh when folks complain about magazine costs on the Mini 14. They are reusable you know right? A one time investment, what goes into those magazines is the bigger hardship.