Funny how polarizing the Scout idea is, even decades later.
I don't feel the particular need to defend the concept line-by-line (it's been done by better men than me, including Cooper himself) but I will say that a lot of negative commentary seems to stem either from folks who don't understand it, or folks who's specialized needs aren't fulfilled by it. No, it's not a good long range target rifle, or main battle rifle, or middle-of-the-night house clearing rifle. If that's what you're looking for, you should go get one, rather than bashing those things which aren't.
The Scout, as simply as possible, is meant as a light and handy rifle capable of taking animals up to 1000 pounds or so, out to 300 yards or so, using a widely available cartridge, while being easy and fast to manage. It still does that quite well.