With lots of firearms (semi, bolt, breach) accumulated over the years and ranges of use from the bench to the field the most expensive is never always the most durable, brightest, clearest, with the exception of Leopold and what used to be Redfield (name now owned by Leopold). I have some older upper end Bushnell that have held up better than more expensive scopes, although Bushnell quality in my opinion is not as good as it once was 25 years ago. I have an older Tasco world class long range bench scope that rivals the clarity of some Leopold’s for 1/4 the price, but even Tasco is no longer the same company it was two decades ago. For my H-bar platforms I have preferred Burris for clarity, quality, and price. Some of the lower price Nikons are good, but do not compare to the quality and clarity I have found with Vortex. Few scopes are made in the U.S. anymore which is why many prefer Leopold. Most are made in China. Vortex has an outstanding warranty and most are made in Japan or the Philippines, except their low end Crossfires which are made in China. If you can afford a Ferrari as a commuter car than you might enjoy a Swarovski or Zeiss. If you want a good scope for cost, durability, and quality with decent warranty than Vortex Razor, Viper, or Diamondback are great choices. Leopold is always a good choice, but for most folks with multiple firearms only one or two of your best rifles get that luxury.
Leupold VX-1s in 3-9x40 can be had for less than $200.