RE: lever or bolt action, why one or the other?
I personally prefer A-bolt, pun intended. I have shot most actions imaginable. In a 30-30 or 44, lever is fine. Browning's BLR comes in 243, 7mm-08, and a couple other smaller calibers with short action. I like those guns. But the 30-06, 308 and the like are long action and it takes a country mile to chamber another shell.
I might add, I am left handed and shoot a right handed bolt. I make my first shot count and have time to chamber another shell just in case.
In the long run, it should be personal preference. Each person has their own likes and dislikes.