I have always bought Vari-X III's, and loved them. I will say, the VXIII is a clearer scope with that lens are much better in index refraction matching. All that said, from what I have compared, the VXII is the same optical quality as the Vari-X III's.

Is it worth more money? Only you can say. I myseld do not like the fact that Leupold has went to a three piece tube design. I like the one piece like Nikon and even the elites still have.