I swore off TCs as well but they have a way of sneaking back into your life, I sold all of mine after a friend gave me his custom longrifle on his death bed.
An ancient TC Hawken kit found in my Dad's closet when he went to assisted living was the first to creep back into my life. A new old stock unfired flint kit barrel for $60 on eBay lay the ground work for a Renegade with an L&R RPL lock. This was followed by a beat-up stock I found that needed a GR drop in that I was able to find while they were still available.
All of these guns were brought back to better than new condition because I had built 5 longrifles since my friend gave me his rifle and had developed some gun building skills.
They are neat, handy little guns and have their place in M/L history.
DING DING DING DING!
My first gun was a TC. Loved it until I went to my first shoot and saw several custom guns. I dropped that TC like a hot potato and bought a bunch of parts to build a real gun.
I understand the custom gun thing I really do but there is nothing wrong with a TC. You dont need a $2000 gun to kill deer or enjoy the BP experience .Now if you wat to play dress up like little boys ... I can see where thats important