My hobby is shooting, half is rifle shooting. I have scopes from different price ranges. My high end scopes are superior in nearly every way to my more inexpensive scopes. I've owned probably 100 scopes over the years, though tend to keep good ones especially if it suits and I keep the rifle.
My Zeiss combo is 15 years old and still fantastic.
My Leupold combo is 28 years old and still delivering, and bright.
Same goes for the similarly aged B&L scopes I own.
I have two 30 year old Tascos and they remain very nice.
Two Optimas, neither are that bright.
I've had good results with relatively recently purchased Bushnell scopes. I regret selling my Hawke Sidewinder. All the Zeiss I've owned were superb, even the Conquests (I have one kept for some future project, just couldn't part with it I liked it so much). Swaro are sublime.
I fancy a Vortex, high end one.
As I've said modern manufacturing can produce very good scopes for not that a high outlay. But the real tests is in the field in varying light conditions. The more tricky the light the more the high end scopes shine through; cut through the glare or peer into the darkest gloom.
If you have never had a really great scope you have missed something in the hobby/sport. Bit like never actually getting proficient with iron sights.