Well,Metric...I did not invent it either.My boss,the CEO of a 100 million dollar consumer product company did.I just paid attention to what he was saying.
I actually was a critical team member in new product development.I was the middle aged guy in the shop who appreciates fine work.Actually,I was doing it.
An engineer would ask to have a steel plastic injection mold built for a new product.
I'd discuss the mod with the tooling engineer to meet his needs.Number of parts expected,schedule,etc with the team.
Then I'd design the tool in Pro-Engineer.
I'd saw steel,make EDM electrodes and mill,turn,grind and burn.
I understudied a Master tool and Die finisher.I'd give whatever polish was desired. Then I'd hang the mold in a press,mold parts,and inspect them.
Aside from making barrels,there is not much gun work that is the fine quality work you describe that equals what a good moldmaker does.
So while you may not grasp the point of the stainless steel toothbrush,thats OK. Nobody stays in business making $597 stainless steel toothbrushes.
In part,Quality is providing what the customer needs.
You imply,because I recognize VALUE in a S+W M+P handgun,that I do not appreciate fine workmanship in guns.
Well,I'm retired with a modest income. But I do still have skills.I do still have access to machines.
You see,Metric,I don't get my buzz buying nice steel guns. I build them.
I dream up a rifle or a 1911 I want,and I build it. I build stuff I could never afford to buy. Somehow I appreciate the work I do with my own hands more than I do the stuff a plastic card can buy.If I can buy it with plastic,it might as well be plastic. And I;ve made from scratch complex parts that are unobtainable for fine old guns.
A disposable plastic toothbrush is indeed a nice analogy. If that's the extent to which you appreciate firearms, of course you'll never want anything other than a plastic frame. Zinc parts will be fine too, so long as they're not in an application where they will fail -- I mean why not?
Your words,Metric.