If you can find one for 600 absolutely pick it up.
But stay away from the early aftermarket carbines like Iver Johnson and universal. Those parts are NOT interchangeable, and reliability is hit or miss.
.
I agree with USAMP1980. With the options available to fill the niche originally occupied by the M1 Carbine, history & romance are the only reasons I can think of to own one! To me that means more of a collector than a shooter. The M1 Carbine is just like the M1. They may be fun to own and shoot but, from a practical point of view, there are better options.