I still believe in having quality optics but I also have learned to drop the ego and realize quality scopes can be bought for far less $$.
Yes name brand recognition does drive the price up and Leupolds are grossly overpriced. But Optical glass is a commodity and the better glass is expensive . Sometimes it is better glass but very hard to judge the difference. At that point comparable scopes could be hundreds of dollars apart because of the brand name. For what its worth. I am going to buy an Aetec for my sons Handi Rifle and try it out