The T2 has night vision capability, a more neutral tint than the T1, it's submersible to 25 meters, and it's tough as could be. You're paying for that R&D, the constant minimizing of technology, and of course some name. But is it worth it? I think so. That being said, if you're not using NV or diving, get an H1 or H2. They're submersible to 5m (17ft), but have the same durability and are a little less expensive. I've used H1's hard, and they just work. I probably still wouldn't bother with an H2 over an H1 unless the deal was right, but if you're one to use caps, you might like it. But take a look at the H1/2, as well as the PRO... the PRO is a bulkier optic, but you can get them for anything from $425 to $375 depending on the deal, and it'll offer the same durability, just at the expense of weight.
As for the Aimpoints vs. the Bushnell/PA/Vortex offerings... It comes down to durability and QC. The rest are made in China, the Aimpoints are made in Sweden, and if you see videos of their factory, they are meticulous about quality (this is what sold me on Aimpoint as a company, more than anything else. It was a Larry Vickers series on YouTube). In the real world, they can take a beating better than the Chinese optics. See the Daniel Defense testing... The T1 survived an explosion, broke the rear lens, but stayed zeroed and was still usable. I think the helicopter drop shifted the windage, but again, it was still useable. Try their tests with a Chinese optic... Again, a Larry Vickers/Daniel Defense video on YouTube.
And I'm sure someone will chime in about how they're not near IED's or in helicopters and how it's all just marketing. Well, that durability scales on the small side as well. Have a rifle in the back of a truck or just dealing with training abuse for a year, two years, 5 years, or 10 years, and you will see the difference. Like MachIVshooter said, it's not about being snobbish... It just is what it is. I've killed a number of Chinese optics, but not yet an Aimpoint.
And as for sights... it's personal preference, largely based off of perceived needs more than anything else. I like fixed irons with the dot in a QD lower-1/3rd mount. Open FOV looking over the irons, but if I forget to turn it on or the dot washes out under white light, the irons are there. If I break it, or it's otherwise blocking my sights, I can just take the whole thing off without having to also flip up sights. That said, as long as the mount is QD, I'm not super picky about the iron setup or mount height. The only thing I actively dislike is an absolute mount with fixed irons. It's just cluttered. And one last thing, using your irons with the optic in place can induce some level of parallax, because you're looking through two lenses. So, if you're going to shoot irons a lot with the optic in place, zero them with it there as well.