I can give you a perspective from a short range Group and Score Shooter.
For years, we had the very reliable Leupold 36BR, actually 3 different models through the years. These are still some of the clearest scopes I have ever looked through. Resolution was great. The crosshairs were extreme fine, the dot as small as 1/16.
There were other 36 offerings, but Leupold was by far the best.
Then Leupold came out with the Competition Serires in either 40 or 45x. The power race was on.
In the mean time, we all convinced ourselves that every scope on the planet was shifting in POI. That is when several viable External Adjustable Mounts came out, and many of us figured out ways to take the various scoops apart and freeze the erector tubes, removing any parts , thus cutting the weight down to compensate for the added weight of the external mounts. My specialty was freezing the Leupold 36x and the Weaver 36x. The weavers were particularly difficult because it was quite difficult just getting them apart.
To this day, if I suspect a Scope problem, I will mount one of my external adjustment frozen 36 Leupold on to see.
My scope freeze was permanent. You could not "unfreeze" it.
About that time, March came on the scene, and with some very astute marketing, hit the Short Range Crowd pretty strong. The first offerings were in 32x, 40x, and 50x. The 32 and 40 were very nice, they seemed to hold POI well and had great glass. The 50, however, while being solid, had terrible optics. Some of the worst ever offered in a Short Range Benchrest Scope.
Since the, others have hit the scene. Night Force a few years back, which did not last long because of only 42x power, and nothing particular special except the Nightforce name.
We are where we are now. March has new offerings, Weaver, Sightron, etc, Leupold has stuck with the 45x Comp series.
I still thing Leupold sets the standard for overall glass in the 45 Competiotion Series. The March High Master Series, which I have three, are close.
For years, we said that the only thing that mattered in a 100/200/300 yard Benchrest Dcope was it hold POI perfect. As long as we could see something to put the crosshairs on, that was fine.
Weight was always a big consideration. The original 36x Leupold was the lightest of all, barley hitting 17 ounces. As later models came out, weight went up. It seemed around 23 ounces was what most shooters could tolerate on a LV or Sporter NBRSA Rifle. So the manufacturers were were stuck at building a Scope with great optics, very reliable in holding POI, and not topping 23 ounces.
I like the March High Master Series. They are pricey, but seem to meet the three requirements I stated earlier.
Of course, I am talking strictly about Short Range Benchrest Scopes. If weight is of no consideration, the field is wide open. I have a old NightForce NXS 8x32 that is probably the finest Scope I ever owned, both in optics and solid internals. But the darn thing weights over 2 pounds, so it is just too darn heavy for a 10.5 Rifle.