Jeff,
I can't give you pros & cons between your 2 choices of Leupold scopes. I can say for the last 6 to 8 months I have been buying the VX-3 , VX-III and 1 Vari-X III as an up-grade project. I've changed just about all my VX-1 & VX-2's 2-7's & 3-9's with the 2.5-8x36. Just like the click adjustment knob a little better then the friction adjust.
Ken
VX-IIs have click adjustments....