your 100% correct, its almost comical at times watching even rather experienced hunters, reactions too the first time they see their first mule deer or elk running through the aspens.
most guys go through this at least once, my main hunting partner for 3 decades shot at his first mule deer, 4 times before hitting it once, and I doubt the range exceeded 90 yards on the last shot, the first was closer to 60 yards, and when it dropped he ran directly to it.......
the problem was he was that he shot that deer while he was standing on the edge of a 10-12 foot drop off a rim rock ledge at that instant, luckly the fall hurt his pride more than anything else.
its examples of minor screw-ups and stories that get told after hunts for decades that make hunting fun.
I have long ago learned that almost any rifle in well-practiced hands works, and I certainly have no doubt a smaller caliber like a 25/06 or 6.5mm or even a 243 win in skilled hands works,
but I find it amusing when someone is convinced he found the one and only holy grail of a rifle and feels he is a bit obligated to convert the ignorant fools that have yet to see the obvious merits ..
I've used a BLR in 257 Roberts, a Ruger single shot in 257 Weatherby, a 30/06, a 358 win and a 340 wby, even a 45/70 with similar results, so Im certainly not about to suggest there's an ideal caliber or rifle
It may be that over 50 plus years of hunting I've learned a few things along the way,
but I learned to smile and not really debate anyone's choices in equipment, what works for them may not be ideal in my opinion, but that's not relevant,
if it works, for them, it might be ideal for them.
If I were going to hunt any area I was totally unfamiliar with Id grab my 340 wby almost every time, the 450 marlin lacks the flat trajectory and longer range punch to be a universal rifle,
but its also not as instinctively quick & handy to use when your hunting where you know shots over 100 yards are very rare, as the BLR is in my opinion

btw I did suggest he try a couple of shots with my BLR..
he looked at the cartridges on the bench and declined to try a couple shots