I'm in to US vintage rifles, I have a copy of each since we went to cartridge rifles, from the 50-70 Trapdoor to the M4.
But, Mosin's have their place.
I have said several times in the past, that I'm against shooting sports becoming a rich man's game.
The Mosin allows any one to get involved in competition. It can and is being used successfully in CMP vintage rifle matches in the (other) Military category.
If one takes the time to learn to shoot the Mosin, he can be quite competitive.
I'm a CMP MI and conduct CMP Vintage Rifle matches. One of the first I conducted, the winner of the match, went out the night before, bought a Mosin for $119, some cheap surplus ammo and won the match.
Its not just competition, the Mosin is being used by people who's whole lively hood depends on the rifle.
I'll use the example of the Alaska Natives. I spent a great deal of time living on the Bering Sea, as first an XO, then a CO of a couple Native National Guard Units. Up until the last 20 years, though it was somewhat illegal, we were unofficially encouraged to allow these people take left over training ammo for use in their subsistence lively hood.
There are few jobs in these villages, many, or most, feed their families by hunting. Military ammo for some reason has dried up. At the same time, the Mosins were released at the end of the cold war. This gave these people access to cheap (but effective) rifles and ammunition.
If you watch some of the Alaska Reality (sic) shows, you'll see Alaska Natives using Mosins (and ARs, sill ammo available for those).
Of course I don't believe the Mosin is the best rifle out there, for competition or to feed your family, but not all of us can afford high quality target rifles, or when there is no money, a $1000 hunting rifle.
There are few out there who love the Garand as much as I do, but I'm not depending on the Garand or Mosin for my lively hood.
Garands are pushing the $1000 mark, Mosins can still be found for about $200. That extra $800 can buy a lot of ammo for seals and walrus to feed your family.
I don't know for sure, but I don't believe in todays environment we'll see another batch of cheap surplus rifles hitting the market. The mosin might just be the last.
The Mosin isn't "done", and I don't see it dying any time soon.