If I chose the standard variant are the magazines still hard to find (Nationally not CO), and are they date coded similar to Magpul. (Would your typical gun show have them available in enough supply to look for "older" ones?

If I chose the NATO Variant (presuming they are available) is the only manual of arms difference between them a lack of a bolt hold open on the NATO stock?

If I bought the standard variant are replacement NATO stocks easy to come by and a simple swap?

I have enough AR-15 pattern magazines to last a lifetime so it would seem simple to choose the NATO variant but my curiosity cor the original is still there.