I have all the lever guns mentioned in this thread. I have a Marlin 30-30, a Rossi 92 in 44mag, and the Marlin 45-70. When it comes to a close shot in heavy brush, my 45-70 guide gun is the rifle I will have if I don't want to hunt with my M1A. The 45-70 Marlin is the only rifle that is in my top three most versitile and powerful rifles for the weight (and I'm a professional gunsmith so I have had hands on just about anything you can dream up).
That said, the Rossi 92 would be my second choice, and after I do an action/trigger job, a 92 is a lead slinging machine.
That said, I voted for the 30-30 in the pol, and I stand by that vote. A marlin 30-30 can be improved upon, but it can never be replaced as a mid range rifle that gets the job done that has an impressive lineup of molds available for it. If you already have the dies and molds, there's no way I would trade it up for a 357 92.
44mag?, maybe.
45-70?, definitely.
35 Remington? In a New York minute and without a second thought!!!!