Don,
Thanks for the excellent summary.  I particularily liked your comment about 
price and agree.  By your dollar numbers, the Swarovski and Leica scopes 
have increased in price even since I last checked (and that was not so long 
ago.)  I'm afraid that with the dollar so stuck in the basement, and not 
likely to re-emerge anytime soon, these are the kind of price tags we are 
facing when considering the purchase of high-end [European/Asian] optics.  
Fortunately, a few years back, I purchased a used Kowa TSN2.  While a far 
cry from high-end, it has served me very well.  With this in mind, I would 
add to your prior feedback to consider purchase of a used scope (and, for 
that matter, binoculars too, if this is of interest for anyone.)  I have 
purchased both used and have had excellent luck.

Hope this extra bit is helpful.

Cathy Carroll
Dearborn, Michigan