Yeah the glass in the ones I had wasn't good at all either. The main thing I didn't like was the problems I had with durability though. I've heard of several others having the same issues. Yet I've also heard of a few people online claiming theirs work.Has not been my experience with them, though my experience was somewhat limited (and it was with VX-I series scopes, not the Rifleman, but per my understanding the construction is the same)...I just couldn't put up with that glass.
The Burris Fullfield II I use now blows the VX-I's away clarity wise and it's in the same price range. Actually slightly cheaper.
The Rifleman line is a step below the VX-I line, so I'm afraid to see how bad they might be.