RCS,
I have a Russian and a Norinco Paratrooper. They were "on sale" for (I think) $265 each - the dealer sold me both to me for $500, and I felt I got a good deal. They were both new, though with a few minor dings. I figured the Russian was worth more than the Chinese, but I wanted a shorter SKS and they are a little hard to find around here. Go to GunsAmerica or GunXchange and I'll bet you see Russians averaging over $300. I think you did fine. Sure, you may find or hear of a cheaper one, but I'll bet for every one you find cheaper, you'll see ten that cost more. I think the current market price of your rifle is more than you paid. The occasional cheaper ones that show up are being sold by people who bought them 10 years ago when they were REALLY cheap, and don't realize how much they have increased in value. That kind of deal is fun to find, but not frequent. At least that's how it looks to me.
Doug