I have experienced the same thing.. Gunsmiths saying they are crap or not willing to work on them.. primarily because.. they were not taught to work on them.. They are a good action for the money, and I own two SPR's myself. It is funny also because the same smiths will then show me a rem700 receiver that the scope mount holes are out of centerline, the face is so out of wack it is funny, the bolt handle needs to be screwed in to make sure it won't break off, the action threads are out, the firing pins are not straight, bolt body issues, and even saw one action that the internal lugs had been milled into on accident from the feedramp side.. reducing enough material that the smith wouldn't use the action for a rsaum project because of the inherent hot round and lack of locking service for the bolt lugs. The list also goes on.. So you find yourself there scratching your head when seconds later they tell you the m70 style fn actions are "junk".
PTG is selling winchester mod 70 drop in bottom metal for the mark 1 A.E. Mags for $99, and they also sell a bottom metal that will accept the A.I 3901 (5 rounds) and A.I. 3902 10rnd chassis mags now, that is similar to a badger/etc..
I have a spr .308 and I took the Ax 308 out head to head with my spr.. I did multiple .4 shot groups with the spr with match ammo, and two .55 -.6 groups with the ax.. Now that is me shooting, and the ax is capable of more I know.. But I got my fn for 1100, and the ax I was shooting cost about $7k. Just food for thought.