Much as it pains me to say it, as a proud member of the Austrian-American minority, but the Steyr ought to at least include the scope.
I've liked what I've seen, but those things are just silly expensive for what they are.
the guys at the sporting goods store working their bolts at their waist level with their tongues hanging out.
Uh, if that's not synonymous with "the great unwashed" then I don't know what is.
Honestly, I think that the forward-mounted scope in particular appeals especially to those who have shotgun experience. Too many rifle-only shooters don't seem to know what pointing and gun fit mean. Maybe that's what they learn in classes, but it's a lot more fun to learn it while busting clays.
Still, I have a conventional .30-06 with a 24" barrel and a receiver-mounted scope, but when I look at something in the distance and raise the rifle to my shoulder and cheek, the target is in the middle of the scope. Gun fit matters with a rifle. THAT is what I've seen people just not have a clue about -- not that I'm putting them down for it, it's just something few people seem to teach new rifle shooters. I never did learn it while just shooting rifles. I didn't really "get it" until I started wanting to hit clay targets with a shotgun and had to find out how.
I also think that the forward-mounted scope is WONDERFULLY pointable, if the gun fits. The price you pay is limited magnification, and magnified FOV suffers, which is an issue in low light. There's a greater chance that the eyepiece gets crudded up with oil and solvent when you clean the gun, and perhaps even when you shoot it and load it from the top. You gain peripheral vision, the use of the off eye. Like I said, as a shotgunner, I like that.
Of course the Steyr makes use of detachable magazines, a good thing for the scope and practical use. But still, the pricetag is a real turnoff. When you're paying that price for a rifle, the world is full of wonderful temptations.
Also, the idea of backup irons is hardly new, but a very good one. Unfortunately, manufacturers have generally quit putting sights on a lot of rifles, and charge extra when they do (after keeping rifle prices the same when they removed the sights). Furthermore, the flip-ups that are readily available thanks to AR advances are great designs, but not cheap either.
Steyr's flip-ups on the Scout are neat, though again I can understand that most people would rather buy a good scope that is less likely to break than pay for them. I've got some return-to-zero Warne QD rings on my .30-06 boltie and they really do work. If I'm concerned about breaking the scope on a hunting trip, I can buy several of them, sight them all in, and put them in padded bags. In little more than the time it would take me to remove my scope to use irons, I can replace it with another pre-sighted scope instead. I also don't have to leave the scope on the rifle in transit.
The modern rifle offers so many options, it's mind-boggling (and wallet-busting). The "scout concept" is a great way to start thinking about what you want to build; it's just not the end-all.