It's hard to explain, but the AWB and GWOT totally changed gun ownership. Way back when if you really wanted a semi with detachable box magazine, you had either a mini or m1 carbine. The AR still had a stigma around it from Vietnam. It took GWOT to break that, and when the AWB sunset, the floodgates opened.eh, I think by the time of the SGW and Bushmaster ARs, the MIni-14 was starting to fade.
There were plenty of AK's, AR's, Hk's and fals etc, but that's not really what you'd see at the range, in shops, etc.