One thing that I haven't seen mentioned in this discussion is how much more use a person will get out of a good binocular. I have my Swaros with me most always, when I am setting on the deck they are beside me or when I am going somewhere in the truck they are with me. I cannot even begin to count how often I will see something that looks interesting and having the binocs just enhances the experience.
I like nice rifles and scopes but if I had to choose between a lesser rifle and scope so that I could have good binocs I would take the good binocs in a heartbeat.
drover