Interesting (and lengthy) thread. I agree that cheap scopes can be “disposable”, i.e. Simmons 8 point, a Bushnell Trophy that was assembled in Korea, many of the sub $100 made in China scopes. But, it is possible, or at least was, to buy a decent scope for a hundred bucks, or less.
About 10 years ago, Natchez was closing out a couple lines of scopes that had been imported for Federal. I bought a couple of 6.5-20x44 Intensity models, for IIRC about $89. They actually have worked well on a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special in .223 and a Savage .17HMR and are still going. They were manufactured in the Philippines and were similar to the Simmons .44 Mag scopes Midway sold. Even nicer were the Nitrex line, made in Japan and surprisingly bright and clear. I grabbed a gloss 3-9x40 and mounted it on a Marlin XL-7 in .270 Win. It compares very favorably to a Leupold VX-2 that my son stole for his Ruger Hawkeye .338 Federal and my Zeiss Conquest that rides on my Winchester Ultimate Shadow in .270 WSM. I got my Nitrex for $99.95 plus shipping. A couple years back, I stumbled across a matte finish Nitrex 3-9x40 on Amazon for $69.95 with free shipping. I haven’t mounted it yet, but I am confident it will serve me well.
More recently, I have purchased a couple of Cabela’s special Leupold American Marksman 3-9x40 scopes on sale for $159.99. They are mounted on a couple .308’s: a Ruger Model 77 Hawkeye and a PSA PA-10. They are working well and I expect them to continue. I also have picked up a couple of Burris 4.5-14x42 scope for $150 apiece. An M-TAC 30mm tube with mil-dot reticle working well on a PSA AR-15, and a 1” tube MSR on a CZ 455 .22 LR.
Anybody can get a decent scope for a grand, or more, but with some research and luck, you can get surprisingly decent glass. I enjoy what I consider my “mid range” scopes, Leupold Var-X III’s and a Vortex Viper. I also like my one higher level long range scope, a Leupold MK 4 4.5-14x40 that I got on sale for $699. ( it sits on a Savage 10T heavy barrel .308 that I got on sale for $429 after rebate). So, I guess I have paid more for a scope than the rifle it’s mounted on.
Oh, by the way, in October 2019, I successfully harvested my first antelope buck at a lasered 318 yards (my longest shot on a game animal). The rifle? A Stevens (Savage) in .243 Win. The scope? A Redfield Revolution 4-12x40 that a friend who had a contact with Leupold snagged for me for $175.