Relative to the value of Leupold customer service and warranty service, see this thread on another forum titled "I Love Leupold!"

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID27/388.html

The Reader's Digest version of this thread is that many hunters have damaged their Leupold products through their own abuse and negligence (for example, thrown off a horse and land on the rifle scope attached to the rifle slung across their back when they were thrown off the horse) and had Leupold just send them a brand new optic, promptly and no questions asked. That kind of service on a warranty has to be worth something. Would Nikon replace a scope busted in two when your horse threw you off and you landed on the scope attached to the rifle slung across your back? See the thread: it is good reading.

And again, the context is that it is ludicrous to say that Leupold scopes are crap and don't work for the intended purpose. My four Leupold's sure work just find and dandy for me. I'm not saying they are the best possible scope -- just haven't had any reasons to complain shooting in legal shooting light out to 400 yards for big game, my intended use for the scopes.