This came up in the thread on TC rifles and could make for an interesting discussion.
Being retired now I have also come to find scope sights to be more necessary for older eyes and scopes themselves are pretty nice even with the best eyes. Probably one of the issues is the worry about their durability. First question is whether greater durability comes with greater cost? I have felt that there is a reasonable acceptable level of price where the Law of Diminishing Returns steps in. This is for a hunting rifle at more normal ranges. An individual shooting at very long ranges might have a different level of performance than an individual shooting under 200 yards.
I had an old 2 1/2 powder on a 300 Savage once. Made a very pretty shot with it by threading through the brush but it was a difficult shot because the optics were a bit hazy. Newer variables like Vortex would have been much clearer to see through. Had a couple of scopes take a spill and still hold zero to get a deer.
Then we get into the mounting. I just put a set of Picatinny bases and rings on my Savage Axis. Love the set up as I am fussy about scope mounting and want one that is "there" when I bring the rifle to my shoulder. These offer great adjustment. Also they seem to be very durable.
Saying around here I have heard more than once: "You should pay more for the scope than the rifle".
DP