My guess is that those issues would have been identified and rectified in a reasonable time, as is common with weapons systems not previously used in combat, rather than the rifle being stacked with contrived problems and turned into a complete cluster **** as was the case.The M16 was not entirely blameless, the Edgewater buffer was completely ineffective, and Colt was not doing a great job at properly reaming chambers.
US Ord's decision to use the incorrect powder, which was out of spec even for the caliber it was originally meant for turned a lot of "a issues" into "the issue".
SA became the scariest thing on earth, a government agency trying to justify its existence.