Well, i have to mostly agree with what you say; saving money on bullets isn't so very wise.

Where you seem to be a Barnes user, i am a Nosler user. However, this year i just have to try the .430 300g xtp on deer. Not to save money, rather to see for myself how they perform. I think they will really do a fine job. If not, it will only get one chance, and then maybe the Barnes TEZ will get a chance, or maybe the Speer gold dot. My baseline to judge the bullet performance by is the Nosler. If one wants to see real tissue damage, one should try the Nosler, even though it costs a little extra. As you mention, one can practice with the xtp, and then it should only take a small # of shots to zero the premium bullet for the hunt.

It would be nice to have to spend a lot of money on bullets whilst hunting, but alas we only get to kill a few, and then there are no more tags.