When I lived back east, I didn't get it either. I thought fielding $2000 binocs was simply diqque measuring. I was wrong. Tripod-based glassing is an art and a sport unto itself, and you don't have to have a tag to do it ...
Glassing is a learned skill, and cannot be bought. However, one can quickly become a solid glasser and have fun. An excellent glasser -- that's another story.
