All scopes, given enough use, will break. It happens. You typically get much longer life from a more expensive optic, though lemons do slip through. You typically get better turrets (in every way) with a more expensive optic. You typically get better glass with a more expensive optic. You also typically get a better warranty with a more expensive optic. There are inexpensive scopes that last. They were the ones where all the tolerances stacked in the scopes favor. Some have good enough glass. Some last a lifetime of deer season hunting. Who knows until you spend your money. I'd rather pay extra and play better odds.
I hate the "optics snob" mentality that only the most elite priced optic works. With that in mind, I certainly think you get more value by buying other than China. Most of the Philippine optics are a good buy. Not quite up to Japan standards typically, but you seem to get a solid step up from China optics. At that point, I'd still suggest buying as nice as you can afford but I would accept that quality level and up.
One day, over a given range session, I made the jump from all bottom priced optics. It hit me that I spend the majority of my time looking through this device, adjusting magnification and turrets, trying to line things up just right. All this time spent mostly looking and fine tuning positions until what I saw was just right. The rifle itself is mostly just sitting there waiting on what I see. Its use is for a very short timeframe. I have/had no problems spending $500-$1000 on a rifle that mostly does nothing yet justifying the money on an optic that is in use more often than any other piece of equipment seemed silly. Once I went to better glass, I found my eyes were less fatigued, I finished without a headache, I could see detail that was missed, etc etc. it was an all around better experience. In the US we tend to justify the bulk of the budget on the rifle, since if it doesn't shoot, a good optic won't fix it. With the same in mind though, if an optic won't hold zero, repeat adjustment, track true, or is overly picky on eye relief/position, a good rifle won't fix it either.
Anymore, short of maybe a Nikon or two on some rimfires, I really wouldn't be interested in a scope made today under the $200-$300 price range. If one were to present that receives a solid track record of great performance for bottom dollar, I'd be glad to use it. A good optic has precision ground glass, coatings that are well studied and properly applied, a tube that is durable and precision sized/fit, adjustments that are durable, accurate, and precise. As well as all the other little parts, locks, and threads that have to be done to very tight tolerance. Its hard to imagine where a cheap optic, especially one that has to be shipped across the globe, sent to an importer, then to a distributor, then to the retail store, and finally to you, leaves enough money in the selling price to pay for that precision. A $50 scope would sell to the retailer for $30-$40, to the distributor for $25-$30, come into the importer for $10-$20, then need shipping from China, any local taxes in China, as well as pay for labor and materials on $10-$20 a piece. I can't imagine that gets you much quality, consistently.
