best hanguard?

cajungo, the exposed op-rod is not a problem, my first mini i bought back in 1979 had the wooden handguard with the op-rod exposed, it was never a problem...(wish i still had that mini...) i'm on my 3rd mini-14 and it had the current issue handguard that hides the op-rod, i removed it and laid it on my table saw and very carefully removed the shroud that covers the op-rod, it looks nice, to me the way the mini is supposed to look, i always hated the way ruger made that ugly shroud, all it is there for to keep the company from being sued in case you get your finger pinched, but i have shot 1000's of rounds thru mini's with exposed op-rods with out getting a pinch, besides, the old garands and m-1 carbines dont have shrouds on their handguards, and by the way, i have a choate handguard that is black plastic, without the ugly shroud, it looks like the m-14 type but i dont really like it because it doesnt fit as tight as the ruger guard, thats why my factory hand guard made the trip to my table saw, i would post a pic if i only knew how.....