Some truth to both sides. If you hunt out a box blind, as is common in the south, where your scope is sheltered, a cheaper scope will often give years of good service. I see a LOT of used rifles, and many I have bought still have cheapy "No-Name" scopes on them that are very servicable. On the other hand, if you hunt humping your rifle up a mountain in Idaho, exposed to rain, sleet, snow, and God knows what else, a cheapy scope will die pretty quick.