I switched to them on my "target" rifles because you can get the rails with a 20 MOA downward slope. This puts on an automatic elevation increase, allowing a 300 yard zero. That leaves more elevation left in the scope turret to dial in longer ranges.
You get what you pay for, and better rails and rings allow for better repeatibility. At the ranges it's intended for, I can swap the ACOG and Eotech, and not sweat a 1/2 MOA variance. And if the otpics fail, it only takes a second to remove them, and pop up the backup iron sights.
Even on a hunting rifle, I see it as a big benefit if you need to quickly remove a failing scope without needing tools. The only other scope mounts I use are the Leopold dual-dovetail mounts as being the most recoil-proof around. Yuh can't go wrong with Leopold.
Oh, and I dust the inside of the rings with rosin before putting the scope in, to prevent any slippage in the rings. I also lap in the scope rings, but that's just me being a perfectionist.
Well, I usually think of open sights as being the only kind of much use on a boat gun, so in that case the rail is prob'ly not much use at sea, though the boat gun surely comes ashore at times where it finds entirely different applications.
I'm not too familiar with red dot sights, never really seen one, but it seems maybe they would be of some use at sea, since they are advertised for close quarters use.