Certainly, though I was also thinking about the opportunity cost of funding one thing versus funding another.
Equipping all PLA infantry with m lok handguard rifles and accessories similar to the US military and having the manufacturing capacity to produce all of those things in an adequate timespan may end up only being a small fraction of the annual PLA budget but given the high demands of the PLA budget I could see them thinking those coppers used somewhere else.
I suppose if the PLA ever had to engage in a longer period of COIN or MOUT then that would be different.
However in a traditional "high intensity" land war (which is arguably the kind of land war the PLAGF is still most configured to fight), the combined arms units and their recce, artillery and maneuver capabilities will be more decisive and yield greater effects than the additional accessories and mounts that infantry have or lack.
The HK416's issues are definitely known about, though AIUI the overgassing issue was resolved somewhat with later blocks. But the premium for HK products is also not really worth the cost.
"and friends" was my way of referencing the HK416 clones/peers like Sig 516, CAR816, even the DSAR-15PC -- i.e.: I was thinking basically AR-15 pattern rifles with single piece handguards as designed, and short stroke pistons, while retaining the similar modularity/upgradability of the AR-15 pedigree.
QBZ-191 from what we could see and has been released, takes after the contemporary short stroke piston AR-15 family in the configuration of its receiver, buffer spring/stock, the short stroke piston (of course), even adopting a similarly located bolt release as well as a more "ergonomic" feature like having ambi fire select. And exploiting some of the advances in domestic industry and technology re not only the construction of the barrel but the overall gun itself, with corresponding benefits for accuracy, barrel life, as well as its bullet.
OTOH, the "Chinese characteristics" retained I would consider to be reasonable cost cutting measures and keeping old but reliable features that the PLA are used to. The non free floated, non aluminum handguard for standard QBZ-191 rifle/carbines would fit into the "reasonable cost cutting measure" category, and things like the reciprocating charging handle, and magazine well and magazine release both in the "old but reliable features" category.
I imagine China's experience with short stroke pistons and designing it ground up for QBZ-191 wouldn't face the same teething issues as HK416 did in adapting the G36 system for the AR-15 platform initially, especially as they developed an entirely new 5.8mm bullet type to take advantage of QBZ-191.
