i'd say a leupy was considered a rich man's scope back in the day - because you could get a serviceable, dependable, optic for around $100 or even less back then.
noadays if you buy a $100 optic, you're usually buying a $100 headache.
so now that serviceable, dependable optics start around $200 or so, might as well pony up a few extra peso's and buy something nice if you're gonna plunk down for a good long term optic.