And I understand the root of custom rifle building in the early 1950s.  there were not a lot of rifles around, and a solid 98 action could be had for practically nothing compared to buying a new Remchester.  Lots of Average Joe Hunters simply used them as is or cut down the fore-ends, but custom smiths saw the gold in the actions and built up beautiful custom rifles on the reworked actions.  It probably seemed like the supply would never end, and it didn't for a few decades, eh?

As for collecting, we often don't know what will be special until it's gone.  I don't hold it against anyone for taking apart some nice rifles.  As it is, I have a decent 98k in my collection, made by Haenel in 1915 if memory serves and, I believe, converted from a long M98 to a K98k sometime in the 1930s.  To me that's an interesting piece of history.