I agree, it’s all a matter of opinion. My issue was making this some kind of off topic battle. $300 will not buy an alpha, so why get into a fight over it? My answer to the OP would be the Hawke Endurance 7x32 ED. Less mag, but easy to hold. Price is right and the glass is quite good. Or the Vortex 8x32 DB. Small, light, good, but not ED glass. See, on topic with no attempt to start a fight.Since every price range has common characteristics, it strikes me that there is not a single answer to the question.
I think that has been rather clearly demonstrated.