The Mini or AR, both fun, handy & IMO an important tool to have in the box.
The Mini wins if a person wants conventional looks & feel. Otherwise, it can't compete with or outdo the AR. Price, ease of maintenance, parts & accessories availability, &, possibly longevity, goes to the AR.
But the real bite in the rear at this time is the doggone ammo prices. Neither gun would be fun to feed. Ammo can be found, lots of it. But small batch prices are about a buck a pop, & up.