The "scout rifle" is about "jack of all trades, master of none"...
I guess I'll argue against that idea. IMO, there are several areas where the Scout rifle is probably the best tool for the job, and others where it is either "as good" as the average rifle or the job is so unrealistic as to be almost pointless.
Nothing is faster, IMO, for 50 yard "snap" shooting. No rifle is easier to carry over long distances or steep terrain. There are more accurate rifles, but that's got nothing to do with bedding or barrel length. (There's no reason a Scout can't be properly glass bedded, and the benchrest shooters put down 0.2" groups with 18-20" barrels.) Special bull barrel jobs are probably better for very long range shooting (>300 yards) but that is a very specialized arena.
I believe the Scout is eminently suitable for the "carry a lot, shoot a little" role. Bear or mountain lion country, for example.
I believe the Scout is the ideal rifle for mountain hunting.
I believe the Scout is the ideal rifle for woods hunting.
I believe the Scout is "as good" as the average rifle for the majority of big game hunting.
I believe the Scout is "as good" as the AR-15/M-14/M1 for the (faintly silly) "SHTF" rifle.
The Scout is not the ideal "beanfield/long range" rifle, but I personally question the ethics of taking big game beyond 300 yeards or so. YMMV.
I personally think it would be worthwhile to properly bed a light bench magazine action with a short "sport" contour bench barrel. Seems to me a sub 1/2" Scout rifle would give the critics something to chew on.
And as for the "limited" utility of the 2.5X sope, I honestly believe most of the critics must never have tried one. Out to 300 yards I find the 2.5 very little handicap if any. I regularly see folks toting rifles with scopes the size of salamis to the range, believing that 20X is the secret to hitting 200 yard targets. You got to try it before you make up your mind, folks.
The main argument against the Scout, IMO, is that they look like hell. I am attracted to walnut and blue steel, which is why my rifles tend to be old and British. If I were to put emotion and appearance aside, however, the logical solution to almost all my rifle "needs" begins and ends with the Scout.
Semper Fi, Jeff!