I prefer iron sights on most of mine. I run aim points on a few and highly recommend them. Eotechs reticle always was too big and covered target at distance.
This. Also, what caliber? The answer would change depending on the use and caliber. I use both of mine for hunting. NV on my 5.56 and scope on my .300BLK, although I am contemplating changing the .300 to a red dot with flip up irons as a backup.
For just banging around I prefer standard A2 iron sights on a 16" carbine. Set them and forget them and ring steel out as far as you can see. Any kind of hunting situation I prefer a scope, which scope depends on which kind of hunting.
And what barrel configuration? Mine is a Remington R15 like the one in the classifieds here, except mine is not camo. It wears a Nikon 3x9 and shoots 50 gr Hornady ZMax into little clusters. Cats and foxes don't like it.
1-6 or similar is my favorite setup. Right now I have a 5.56 with a P.A. 1-6 and a very similar rifle with a Vortex 1-8. However, both carbines spend most of the shooting time at 1x.
I like the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8. Does great at close range (under 50 yards) but still deadly at long ranges. My personal range has targets set from 50-400 yards is why I started using the 1-8 instead of the 1-6.