Not sure where you got Colt only from.
If by "technology progresses" you mean profit margin increases, I'll agree.
Seal up a plastic gun any way you like. It will become brittle over time. All plastic gasses - at different rates. Stress, heat, and UV will speed the process, but nothing will stop it. This has been discussed on numerous boards.
Grease up a metal and wood gun, seal it in a dry container, and it will outlast many lifetimes.