Back to the original question, I have not used 10 different scopes. I started out with a cheap Simmons, and killed deer with it. After chasing a gut shot buck down to finish him off, then learning the scope was like 8 inches to the right and off on elevation, too, I started looking for quality scopes, bases and rings. I settled on Leupold for all, started with the Vx-II. I got to where I could afford VX-III's, so I started buying them. I tend to slip and fall, let my gun slide too fast out of the stand, and generally abuse them. I have never had a problem with the Leupold setup. Maybe I've just been lucky. I could afford more expensive scopes, and have considered them, but I never know which rifle I will decide to take, and it's expensive enough to put Leupolds on all of them. I've never had to send one back, so I don't know about their customer service.
I've never looked through a really expensive scope, but know a mulie at 450 yards in fading light is plenty clear through a VX-III.