I've considered renting optics.
Now THAT may make sense.
Especially for us Easterners who come out west once a year to hunt. Kinda hard to drop big money on a spotter when it won't be used but a few days a year.
You could likely check it out before your hunt to be sure it's in good working order and I can't think of any cooties you could catch from optics.
Come to think of it, I rented a satellite phone two years ago for a solo backpack hunt where there was no cell reception. May again this year depending on where I end up going.
