In every discipline of shooting, be it shotgun, rifles or handgun, there's a contingent of salty old veterans (both kinds) who have literally "been there and done that". You have to listen to them because most of them have worn out and thrown away more shooting gear than you've seen,
Some of you sound like you could join the #metoo movement based on what NF has done to your psyche.
First, I liked your post, need some humor in this train wreck.
I agree and disagree both at the same time. Most guys who've been around the block are knowledgeable as heck, but their opinions on things is where a disconnect can occur. I am set in my ways, scoff at gadgets. I shoot with guys 20 yrs younger and roll my eyes a lot on their thoughts, does not make me right. And in a lot cases, at some point end up being left behind for a failure to change
When a guy looks at a rifle build or buy, all the ideas poured into a bowl to come up with a finished product, the scope will always be the most subjective. The choice between a Curtis or Defiance action may be moot. A bix & andy, or trigger tech diamond will not yield any more hits than a Jewell or a calvin elite, nor will the cheaper ones account for more misses. A Manners is on par with a McMillan, or both on par with an MPA chassis, but with stocks we are getting more into personal preferences but not on par with the optic. With a scope, it may be necessity, or desire, or the abundance of choices today.
The days of buying a Leupold Vari X, or VX and being satisfied are gone. Buying the scope to fit is tough today.
You buy one chassis and if it is not for you, wont do that again, buy a brand of action you don't like, that bond is broken, buy a new brand of stock and don't like, wont be back, have a trigger bind up on an outing, goodbye. But the bulk of us will keep giving optics companies many chances to redeem themselves, even after getting our butts handed to us on a resale. The scope market is tough right now.
The OP threw some vague statements out, did I say vague, and now we are in a big storm. If you are looking at a scope, I would trust a friend only, not some internet jibberish. I own 5 Kahles scopes, only because of local opinions, if NF had made a decent mil reticle when I switched from moa, I'd own 6 F1 NF. I want a ZCO, and a TT, but if I own one, will need to replace the others, just how I roll and it is not feasible, what I have is good enough for my line of shooting. I am not a vortex guy, but need a scope for AR load development, a gen 2 razor meets every criteria I have, but it weighs 48oz, I wont do it. I will end up spending 800 more for a comparable model.