Things have changed at leupold - Leupold Mark 4 4.5-14x40mm LR/T Target Rifle Scopes

I give this scope a solid rating based on field performance, clarity (Japanese glass) and durability. Like many, I have had - and still have - many Leupolds, VX3s, EFRs, etc. Long time Leupold fan. What I don't like about this particular experience is, the scope was marred on the metal (ocular end), yet was unopened, brand new sealed in factory shrink wrap. And, filthy - loaded with fingerprints - even the dials under the turret caps, and dust. It is hard to even imagine, given the nature of Leupold advertising, which has always featured men in white coats wearing rubber gloves in what appear to be operating room-like clean labratories. Bad impression when opening a new scope from such a big name maker, and NOT unlike my last (VX3 6.5-20 EFR), which was also blemished on the ocular end - something I thought to be an aberration, but I now see was not. On this scope, also, no yardage prints on the side focus turret: To a point I understand this - we all try to avoid relying on such readings when dialing out parallax error, but ALL the VXs with AOs have them, and virtually all other brands of scopes using the SF in lieu of AO have them. Why have hashes at all if no numbers are present to correlate? NOT smart design - even by Leupold's own design standards for the VX3s (who needs numbers on the AO models, right?). Sure - tactical. Hunting/Target tactical, but other tactical scopes from Vortex to Nightforce to Bushnell to Nikon to..... employ numbers. I'm starting to like Vortex (PSTs), which just have a 'feel' and appearance suggesting greater care is used when QA-ing, packing, and to some extent, assembling. This was the first scope I have ever seen that, straight out of the box, didn't look new - but clearly was. Functionally, I'd go with a 4 star rating because the glass is very good (not close to Zeiss, Smith, Kahles or Leica, but good. Medium quality Nikon glass most infer, since Leupold does not make lenses). But the experience on balance should bring this down to a 2 or 3 star rating. Leupold is changing. Instructions are an amalgam (covering different models; indeed, model lines - not model or even line specific). No sunshades included anymore (very cheap plastic flip-up covers, yes!!). Corner cutting is what this feels like, and a lot of precision shooting and optics blogs concur. Given how many superb scope makers compete with Leupold today - with outstanding optics (better), erector assemblies, fit and finish - AND features per dollar, I would watch it if I were Leupold.