Chad,
No offense to you but I think you said it best. I am a hunter and less of a "shooter"--and a lot of guys enjoy the sport of shooting, and less hunting. have scopes I "dial" and shoot LR, but in a lot of my guns I set the scopes zero at 100 or 200 and leave them. I practice a lot from 100 to 300, well within range where most big game is killed, and leave it...
Durability...hummm...everything mechanical WiLL Falter..no doubt. I have had a SB PM 3x12 fail after 80 rounds...sent it back and have not had a problem since...I had a Vortex razor 5x20 not track entirely true...sent it back, not a problem since--both of those I would have to say are pretty durable scopes. I have also had a Leupold VX-7 1.5x6 on my 375 ultra since 2008 I have hauled over hells half acre, and never has failed. It may fail tomorrow, but has made 3 trips to Africa, and a couple trips to Wack nilgai in South Texas, but I set it and left it...I can shoot it out to 300 without problems. Weight is also an issue, my nightforces are the heaviest scopes I own other than one US Optics 10x I have. Are they durable? Yes! Are they a boat anchor too, well not quite that heavy, but close.
A lot of guys assume, that the person will be dialing are shooting long-range with their scope...if so it the gun and scope can weight 13-15 lbs no problem?... A great majority set it and leave it, or use other drop compensating recitals to range with--or prefer a lighter scope they can put on a lighter weight rifle. I've messed with a lot of scopes over the years, and optics are very personal to each person... And everybody sees the glass through their eyes a little differently.... I guess you and I differ a bit.