Forgive me if I have made the incorrect presumption here, but when you say, “itty bitty groups at small targets like playing cards,” it skews my perspective to shooting at least a few hundred yards. Personally, I very rarely shoot less than 12-15x, and when shooting at small targets, even at 50 or 100 yards, I’ll crank up pretty high - typically as high as my optic will allow, which is typically 16-30x. I never can convince myself - outside of fixed distance competition format - to like a fixed power scope. Even in fixed distance BR, I would occasionally vary my magnification based on mirage or light conditions. A criticism I have of the T36 and Leup Comp 45x is the exceedingly small inherent exit pupil of high magnification optics with small objectives. The sensitivity to light condition in a 1-1.1mm exit pupil kills my eyes - a decade ago, I could manage it, today, no way. So between mirage management and light sensitivity, I just don’t love high magnification fixies.
At $1,000, consider calling GA Precision and purchasing a Bushnell DMR II 3.5-21x50mm with a free Kestrel Sportsman for $940. It’s a G3 reticle, which is busier than you need for your task, but the center of the reticle is a finer line than the main stadia, and the glass is great. Admittedly, I do have a Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x50mm on my “bench 223,” but I have to also admit, I’m disappointed with it every time I take it afield. But for $600ish, it will do what you need.