I like the patrol rifle idea. I hope it takes off with everyone choosing .30-30 marlins, so the value of mine will increase and I'll finally be telling the truth when I justify my purchases as investments.
The Marlin works for me as an everyday gun because it has sufficient power for good sized animals, and it points like a nice shotgun. I'm not nearly as fast with a lever as I am with a semi-auto for repeat shots, but I'd think for most situations a patrol rifle would encounter, a lightning fast first shot is what one needs.
Maybe the AR is god's gift to shooting (I certainly love mine), but I don't see why it's impossible that Cosmoline might get better use out of his bolt gun. I sure do out of my levergun, and I get more power and the ability to shoot a wide range of ammo...light loads for smaller animals, heavier loads for bigger animals, and off-the-shelf .30-30 for everything in between.