For what it is worth I have 6 .22 rifles of which one is the Ruger 10/22 in SS. Except for the BR25 magazine and shooting 25 times without reloading there is nothing special about it that makes it any better than the others. In retrospect, I bought the 10/22 because I gave in to the hype and it was on sale. After having it for a while and putting on a different stock, scope, etc., I realized that it is still no better than what I already had. In fact, the Remington bolt and Savage bolt are enjoyable and compete to be my most accurate while the Rossi is most convenient as it is a short single shot and combines with the 410 shotgun. The Marlin 60 is a sweet shooter and will fire 14 rounds as fast as I can pull the trigger and almost through the same hole. But my tops of top in accuracy, versatility, and fun to shoot is the Henry lever action since it will shoot short, long, and long rifle. If I had to give up one it would be the 10/22 and if I were to suggest one it would be the Henry .22. Honestly you are not missing anything.
Regarding the Henry; here in Canada, we can buy a CZ for about the same money as a Henry. For that reason, it's CZ for me!
So true regarding the 10/22. The earlier ones were very consistent in their accuracy; these last 10 years or so they were a bit more hit or miss in both accuracy and reliability. It seems with the 10/22 here in Canada, the only unmodified ones are owned by recreational plinkers who are happy with "minute of pop-can" accuracy. Our club have a bunch of guys who drank the 10/22 coolaid and have spent somewhere between $1000 and $2500 over and above the purchase price to rebarrel (anything from carbon fiber to 1 3/4 diameter bull, re-stock accuritize, custom receivers. tactical platforms, custom finishes). They then bring them out to a competition with their "super rifles" and never even place. It always seems to be one of us old guys with a conventional design rifle, and some Amish kids with their barn rifle that place in the top 5 every time.
What are we doing differently; we get out and shoot! We shoot with the idea that we have to always get better. Yes, their are some .22 rifles that are bad, but for the most part, the shooter rarely gets to the point where they can shoot better than their rifle. When you do, then it's time to think about upgrading! We don't count on our rifle to win for us.
BTW, two rough-tough barn rifles won second place in both Classes at the Amish shoot this year. My BIL's old Winchester, and myself with my friends old Cooey 78 single shot target rifle. My BIL was tied with a guy with a $2000.00 custom "precision long range" rifle, my BIL beat him with his barn rifle I sold him for $100.00 with a 40+ yo Tasco scope.
I was tied with an 18 YO Amish lad for first, he out shot me by one point on the shoot out. Tragically, he was killed in an industrial accident only two weeks ago. Good kid, and just recently married.