I feel that all the magnifications have their place (says the guy with too many binoculars) ; ), depending on all the variables, such as age or vision quality, distance, field of view-etc, etc. It's very dependent on use, and what you want to see. Just this morning, I found that my Nikon EII 8x30's showed me more detail immediately than my 10x roof bins (more than one model and make), in the dew drops on the grass from earlier snow flurries at about 35 yards (yes, green grass here, and snow for a while now). I was quite surprised to see that added detail, so I went back to my 10x bins that I always use, and sure enough, the detail was there, but you had to hold it steadier to notice it! When I first wake up, my eyes aren't the best a focusing, so maybe that had something to do with it too.
But sure, 8x can give you details that 10x misses, if you aren't careful, or if you choose objects you can't tell the difference right off without concentration. I don't want to give up my 10x bins, because they do reach out and give you a larger enhancement of the subject. But now I have been pleasantly surprised that 8x can actually show you more detail somtimes (mostly in closer objects), but if you aren't careful, or you are using the wrong binocular that easily shows those details, you might be fooled temporarily what works best. And of course, the larger field of viewing angle in an 8x usually is wider than the 10x view. So, yes, there are many differences between them.
I want both, and will pick my choices from what I have, and often what detail you see is very dependent on the lighting conditons in which you are viewing, I have noticed. That is another recent relevation to me about viewing and seeing through binoculars-it certainly depends on the lighting conditions at the time you are viewing. If you don't consider that too, you may be fooling yourself into more limited thinking about the view you see whenever you make a comparison, or see a scene that inspires you. There are really so many variables, let alone what each of us may percieve or notice due to individual eyesight and perception. So, discussing the finer details of binoculars and our opinions on the view, etc is surely, highly subjective, if you haven't figured that out by now!
But it's fun, and hey, life's too short to make it a battle ground here-just note what you see and go from there. It's all about you, and your choices, and how they work for you. Can you do it with one, two, or three binoculars? Some can, some can't! I like to have variable choices available, and I find that at times some are better than others for me.
Buy and try, that is my way.