Like you, I don’t think I’ll be doing anymore combat time (my last time was 48 years ago) and if I did, my sentimental favorite would me an M14..
But - what really is an AR-15 for? Plinking gophers? I would think that it’s a primary contingency weapon for close-in defense of your home and neighborhood. I.e., a combat weapon. Mine was out of the gun safe last night in case the Baltimore entertainment spread a few miles south.
It's a highly adaptable all purpose modern sporting rifle. That adaptability is what makes it so popular I think. The purpose of this "modern sporting rifle" has been a topic of much discussion.
I would think that it’s a primary contingency weapon for close-in defense of your home and neighborhood. I.e., a combat weapon.
It is certainly capable of filling that role. It's capable of reaching out beyond "close in combat" distances too.
Mine was out of the gun safe last night in case the Baltimore entertainment spread a few miles south.
The rifle and scope you have chosen would certainly serve you well in that case. I typically prefer higher magnification variable power scopes. I just can't justify $1,300 for a fixed 4x power scope no matter how good it is, especially on rifles that I have built to shoot MOA or better, rifles designed to exploit chinks in the armor.