SNS3Guppy,
Our profit margin on that airplane was substantially higher than any other, and we used it for all sorts of utility work, including a landing on volcanos, rough field work, hauling freight, passengers, just about anything. Great utility airplanes. The venerable 172 is hard to beat in terms of cost for the utility it provides, especially at the price they can be had.
I tend to take your side in the C172 vs. kitplane dispute, but when it comes to "volcanoes and rough fields" and other off-aerodrome work, would your aircraft of choice really be a C172, and not, for example, a C180?