Save yourself a lot of grief and don't fall for the sex appeal of the M1A. They're like redheads...
They are full of mystique and turn heads every time they walk in the room. There aren't nearly as many out there as a brunette (Scar) or bleach blonde (AR10) which just adds to the sex appeal. What you don't know is....
They're fun to look at, but come with so much baggage and attitude ... You never actually get to enjoy them. You end up spending all of your time trying to to get them to do what every brunette does ... Function normally.
AR10s are the bleach blondes of the gun world.
That fake blonde hair looks great, but it's completely superficial. They're hiding something with it. Best case its hiding a flaw like their true age. Most importantly, it proves they know they have a fundamental flaw and have to hide it.
SCAR17 and FAL are the brunettes of the gun world.
They definitely lack the exotic sex appeal of a redhead, and the over commercialized appeal of a bleach blonde. However, they're dependable and usually more intelligent. They're the type most men end up with after wasting a lot of grief and money trying to make the other two options work out.
I agree with most of this assessment, especially the redheads, but noticed you missed a category.
So what fills the world majority Raven slot?
For me it would be a Vepr or barring that, Saiga, with CSSpecs mags for the .308 version of 3rd world simple yet reliable that is also super easy to work on if needed. The Vepr as a .308 AK is as accurate as any FAL or M1a I've shot, if not better with same optics. I would feel perfectly comfortable with no spare part beyond just an extractor that I would likely never need if I had to go for the long haul with one, with or without optics.
I still prefer the smaller caliber of 5.45 for weight savings on ammo with the same weapon design. If I need to take a shot longer than the effective 500 meters, I will either find a way to get closer or just pass on the shot. The 54r version is quite a thumper too, but magazine options are very limited for now.
