For my part, I've noticed that I spend a lot more time looking at and admiring my rifles, even while hunting, than I do shooting them.
As a machinist and gunsmith, I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a fine firearm.
It's the same thing with women... A drunken bagger will get the basic job done, but wouldn't you rather wind up with one that is pretty, stacked, smart, and has a sweet personality?
I own a Ruger American in .308 with a Bushnell Banner 3-9, which is butt-ugly but it's a backup weapon for my BLR, also in .308 which is quite comely with its Conetrol rings holding a Leupold 2-7 compact scope in gloss.
I have around 1500 bills tied up in the BLR, and about 400 bills total in the Ruger.
That's what makes the Ruger "entry level", it's a less expensive bagger that gets the basic job done just fine. - But I'd really rather go out with the BLR.
Wouldn't you?
Heh heh